Iran on par with big powers: Jalili

Presidential candidate Saeed Jalili says Iran is currently a regional power that is on a par with big powers, despite enemies™ efforts to impede the country™s progress and success.

œThey [enemies] explicitly announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran has not only been stabilized, but is currently a regional power that is on a par with big powers,” Jalili said in an address to a gathering of people in the city of Varamin, Tehran Province, on Wednesday.

The principlist candidate cited pure Islam and the loyalty of the Iranian people as two main factors which have brought about the country™s progress and success.

œPure Islam that has been defined by [the founder of the Islamic Republic] Imam [Khomeini] and Leader [of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei] whose gist is the rule of the Muslim Jurisprudent. The second [factor] is the [participation of] people who have faith, and who have been allowed to make the most of their potentials,” he stated.

The secretary of the Supreme National Security Council said he deeply believes that many other problems can be also solved by these two factors.

œOur epic was not simply [limited to] the Sacred Defense,” Jalili said in reference to Iraq™s imposed war on Iran during 1980-1988. œIf these two elements are brought together, as stated by the Leader, we will be able to create a political epic as well. We can also create an economic epic because these two elements are present everywhere,” Jalili pointed out.

He underlined the need for œrevolutionary management” to resolve the country™s problems, adding that such a management is a result of positive interaction among competent managers.

If this kind of management is realized, the presidential candidate added, officials in charge will do their best to manage the country’s affairs and will not simply focus on running the country based on their own interests.

Jalili is competing against President of the Center for Strategic Research the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, MP Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi.

The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election. This year™s election will be held on June 14.

SF/AR/SS/HMV