TEHRAN (FNA) - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Monday urged all Muslims, including Shiites and Sunnites, to maintain and enhance heartfelt solidarity.

“Continued unity and solidarity of all Iranian peoples and different political streams in defending the flag of Islam in Iran is necessary and guarantees a bright future for the nation,” Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated while addressing a gathering of local residents in the city of Bijar in the western Kurdistan province.
The Leader further reminded that unity of the Iranian people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds and their subordination and obedience to the Late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, created such a fresh civilization and movement in the world politics that its leading effects are still clearly observed not only in Palestine and Lebanon but also in awakening nations from northern Africa to eastern Asia.
The Iranian Leader also called for massive public turnout in the presidential election due to be held June 12, and urged the nation to choose a president who would not be intimidated by the enemies.
In earlier comments in the same province, Ayatollah Khamenei had blasted those who intend to repeat western prescriptions for the country as their campaign motto in the upcoming presidential election, saying such words are against Iranian-Islamic identity and way of thinking.
“Any affiliation with the prescriptions written by the aliens is against national interests and undermines independence, glory and prosperity of the country, and it is not considered as a privilege,” he said, addressing a gathering of local residents in the Kurdistan province on Saturday.