Iran: Supreme Leader Khamenei warns over early election campaigns

Leader: Early election campaigns not in country’s interests. TEHRAN – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that hasty presidential campaigns will detract attention from major national issues.

The issues related to elections, especially an enthusiastic turnout in elections are very important “but some have begun election discussions hastily… which will detract attentions from major issues,” the Leader told a group of students on the eve of November 3, a day marking the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran by a group of students in 1979.  Iran’s presidential elections will be held on June 12 next year.  Elsewhere in his talks the Leader said Iranian hatred of the United States is deep-rooted.  “This dispute (with America) is beyond differences of opinion on a few political issues,” the Supreme Leader noted.  Ayatollah Khamenei also said the U.S. will not be able to dissuade Iran from the “path of independence, dignity and prosperity.”   The Leader said after the Islamic Revolution the U.S. lost its main ally in the heart of the Middle East, which is also the world's oil rich spot.   Commenting on a likely confrontation between Iran and the U.S., Ayatollah Khamenei said the Western media is propagating the view that that outcome of such a confrontation would result in a “deadlock” for Iran and a “success” for the U.S. but ""that's a sheer lie because the way ends in a deadlock for the arrogant U.S. regime.   “Had the U.S. wished to defeat Iran, it would have done it when the nation was less experienced and had little scientific and military capabilities. It couldn't do so in those times and now the Iranian nation is more powerful and capable than the past. Definitely it will not be able to do that.