Avoid ‘Immoral’ Speeches, Khamenei Says as Iran Poll Heats Up
- Comments follow attacks by Rouhani on conservative opponents
- President’s record on economy post-nuclear deal in focus
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Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on candidates in this month’s presidential election to avoid “immoral” outbursts that could damage the nation, after the contest turned increasingly confrontational.
“Elections can bring us pride or weaken us,” Khamenei said in a public address on Wednesday, according to his website. “If people participate with order and proceed with ethics and respect the limits of Islam and laws, it will lead to dignity for the Islamic Republic,” he said. If they “turn immoral and with their spoken words give hope to the enemy, then the elections will turn to our disadvantage.”