Iran’s Supreme Leader urges presidential candidates to avoid divisive rhetoric

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei addressed Iran’s presidential candidates during a meeting with judiciary officials, emphasizing the importance of responsible campaigning.

Praising televised election programs for showcasing diverse viewpoints, he cautioned candidates against using hostile or divisive rhetoric that pleases enemies. Highlighting the global trend of fearmongering in elections, he warned that such tactics ultimately harm the country's future, Mehrnews reports.

Dr. Mehdi Fazaeli, from Khamenei’s office, explained that creating polarization may seem advantageous initially but ultimately disservices everyone, including the candidates themselves.

“The Leader of the Islamic Revolution emphasized a significant message in his remarks. He urged candidates to avoid actions that cater to the enemy and then clarified that the enemy is not only opposed to the Islamic Republic but also poses a threat to Iran and its citizens,” Dr. Mehdi Fazaeli, a member of Ayatollah Khamenei’s office, told the Tehran Times.

"So, candidates who choose to break taboos on national TV and make unrealistic and outrageous remarks may initially feel satisfied that they have deterred voters from supporting their opponents. They will, however, understand down the line that they have done a disservice to everyone, including themselves,” he added.

Fazaeli explained that candidates in Iran have shown a tendency to gain votes by creating polarization. “For instance, everyone agrees that sanctions are detrimental to the country and that they should be terminated and neutralized. Officials and politicians only have disagreements on the path that could lead to the termination of sanctions. But a candidate that wants to create polarization on this matter could say that only he wants the sanctions gone and that his rivals do not care enough about the issue or are even supporters of sanctions,” he stated.