Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called for 'maximum' voter turnout in the upcoming presidential election, emphasizing the need to 'overcome the enemy.' Without naming specific candidates, Khamenei criticized politicians who he believes rely too heavily on the United States for progress.
The comments by Khamenei are seen as a direct challenge to reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian, who has advocated for a return to the 2015 nuclear deal and closer ties with the West. Khamenei warned against supporting individuals who oppose the Islamic system or show allegiance to the U.S., stating that they would not be beneficial for the country.
During a speech marking the Shiite holiday of Eid al-Ghadir, Khamenei's remarks prompted chants of 'Death to America, death to Israel' from the audience. The 85-year-old leader had to urge the crowd to remain calm multiple times during his hour-long address.
The upcoming election follows the tragic death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash earlier this year. Khamenei's call for high voter turnout comes after a previous parliamentary election that saw a record low participation rate.
Pezeshkian, a relatively unknown candidate before entering the race, has been drawing significant crowds at his campaign events in Tehran and other major cities. He has adopted symbols and slogans from past reformist campaigns, emphasizing nationalism over religion and drawing parallels to the 2009 Green Movement protests.
Despite Khamenei's remarks, Pezeshkian has not issued an immediate response. The timing of Khamenei's comments is seen as an attempt to influence the final televised debate before the election, scheduled shortly after his speech.
