TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday called for high turnout in Friday's presidential election, urging voters to send a message to the United States.
The Leader said the United States and its allies, including the "pathetic prime minister of the Zionist regime" are closely watching the vote.
Ayatollah Khamenei called the election a "great popular epic," saying that while the region is "drowned in anxiety," Iran is "peacefully and safely holding an election."
The Leader invited the nation to appreciate the peace and security Iran enjoys during the week of elections.
"Look at the countries of the region, where can you find a place where there is no insecurity? Among this insecure collection of countries, the Islamic Republic of Iran is busy preparing for elections in peace and security,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
"We have only two days left until election day. All praise is due to God. This peaceful and calm environment is invaluable. In a country with 80 million people, the nation is enthusiastically preparing itself for Election Day. Meanwhile, there is peace everywhere; this is truly something precious that we should appreciate.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said, "It is likely that some individuals will seek to violate law. However, these sectors, whether the executive, regulatory, or security sectors, are trustworthy and reliable, thank God; they should of course watch out."
Ayatollah Khamenei warned the nation and the authorities of the enemy.
"The Iranian nation has an enemy; against this enemy, the face of the nation should strongly reflect resolute willpower and determination, as well as self-confidence, peace and calm."
The Leader highlighted the significance of public discipline. "Discipline among our people is extremely important; public discipline and the people's commitment to abide by laws before the election, on the day of the election and after the election, are valuable.”
"This is what many countries lack; and our nation proves to enjoy that: we have learned from experiences in the past. The Iranian nation has learned through experience that discipline is beneficial, and indiscipline unlawfulness can be so harmful,” the Leader added.
Ayatollah Khamenei further said the Islamic Republic has granted Iran freedom, "although some people are ungrateful and use the freedom they are given to deny freedom exists.”
"Thank God, there is a free environment in Iran; there is the influence of the people's vote in electing the president and city managers.
"This is crucial. Groups within our region, whose government heads are backed by the U.S. regime, long for having such elections. It is a dream for them to take the stage, to have a few people compete for taking on the presidency, and for the people to have the right to vote.”
Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said turnout is expected to exceed 70%. Some 56.4 million people out of a population of 80 million are eligible to vote.
Fazli said the vote counting would commence after midnight and that the results would be announced "sooner" than in previous elections. In past elections, the results have been announced two days later, on Sunday.