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Iranian presidential candidate Ali Akbar Velayati says it is possible to fix the Islamic Republic\'s economic problems by reforming the country\'s foreign policy. The Iranian former foreign minister made the remarks in a televised interview in Tehran on Monday. \"The issue of foreign affairs... and the domestic economy have close ties to one another,\" he said. Velayati, who is currently serving as an advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, stated that he would pursue Iran\'s nuclear rights if elected in the upcoming presidential election. \"I would like to assure our dear people that we will solve the nuclear issue by preserving the nuclear rights and we will boost international relations without relinquishing an iota of Iran\'s rights.\" The Principlist candidate added that Iran has \"billions of dollars in foreign countries,\" and that \"we need an active diplomacy,\" to return it. He also emphasized boosting the country\'s economy by privatizing state-run sectors, increasing production, and fully implementing the state subsidy program. Velayati will be contending against lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, President of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi. Iranians will go to the polls in the nation\'s 11th presidential election on June 14. The 4th city and rural council elections are also scheduled to be held on the same day. The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election, and the Guardian Council vets the candidates. Press TV reports on the latest news headlines from around the world.

[15 Dec 2014] Velayati: Iran missile capability won\'t be part of nuclear talks - English

[18 Aug 2015] Ali Akbar Velayati: Iran-Syria ties very strategic - English

Speech by Velayati and Ahmadinejad at Islamic Awakening and Youth Conference - Farsi

In the new series of the program, we held one on one interviews with the main Iranian presidential candidates. On this episode, Press TV\'s Gisoo Misha Ahmadi talks to Iran\'s former Foreign Minister and presidential candidate Ali Akbar Velayati. Iran\'s 11th presidential election will be held on June 14. Presidential hopefuls can register from May 7 to 11. The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election

Ali Akbar Velayati: Hanya 1 Pilihan; Lawan! | Farsi sub Bahasa Indonesia

ampaigning Iran\'s presidential race is now underway following the Guardian Council\'s approval of 8 candidates. Some candidates have chosen universities as their starting point. Principlist candidate Ali Akbar Velayati and Reformist candidate Mohammad Reza Aref were welcomed by academics at the university of the Tehran. They were invited to the university to talk about their programs and answer questions. Speaking to Press TV, Velayati who is Iran\'s former Foreign Minister and a senior advisor to Iran\'s Leader, answered a question about his specialty, foreign affairs.

Iran tests radars on 3rd day of drills Iran's military has entered the third day of its biggest ever nationwide air drills, with testing radar capabilities in defending the country's territory. The anti-air defense units from Iran's Armed Forces and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) are taking part in the five-day air defense maneuvers dubbed Defenders of Velayat Skies, which began on Tuesday. According to the spokesman for the military drills Brigadier Hamid Arzhangi, various kinds of fixed and mobile radars that have been domestically manufactured or refurbished would be tested during the third day of the drills on Thursday. He further explained that radars would be used to detect and identify objects and pass relevant data to the operational units. The military official added that all types of the country's radar systems, which would relay intelligence to the unified command and control network of the central headquarters, would be utilized and examined during the third day of the maneuvers. He pointed out that reconnaissance missions to detect state-of-the-art systems of theatrical enemies using radars were also on the agenda of the third day of drills. During the second day of the maneuvers on Wednesday, advanced equipment used for communication and exchange of intelligence along with modern electro-optical systems were successfully tested and utilized. The air maneuvers are being held near Iran's strategic sights and landmarks, aiming to assess performance of new air defense systems and enhance rapid response capabilities in countering potential aerial attacks. Iranian military officials say the drills convey a message of peace and friendship to neighboring countries and a fierce warning against enemies. Iran simulates Electronic Warfare in drills An Iranian commander says the Air Force has "analyzed and conducted" Electronic Warfare (EW) missions during the first three days of its biggest defense drills. "EW means jamming the enemies' electronic systems, equipment, and capabilities and the mission of this war is to seize and control electromagnetic fields," Colonel Moharam Qolizadeh said on Thursday. "We have analyzed and conducted EW missions in the drills [dubbed] 'Modafean Aseman Velayt 3' (Guardians of Velayati Skies)," he added. The colonel said the maneuvers were aimed at "spotting [the enemy] without being spotted" and tapping the enemy communications lines without compromising transmissions by Iranian forces. Earlier on Thursday, the spokesman for the military drills Brigadier General Hamid Arzhangi said Iran had successfully tested a new generation of its first domestically-manufactured air defense system during the third day of the nationwide air drills. The Mersad (Ambush) modern medium-range system is capable of spotting and destroying advanced aircraft at low and high altitudes. In addition to its high mobility, Mersad's new generation can be used in electronic warfare and can be networked with other radar and defense systems, Arzhangi added. The forces were also set to test various models of fixed and mobile radars that have been domestically manufactured or refurbished. Air defense units from Iran's Armed Forces and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) are taking part in the five-day air maneuvers.

[31 Jan 2013] Adviser to Iran leader visits Pakistan - English

Presidential candidate Hassan Rohani says the US-engineered sanctions against Iran are illegal, because the West acknowledged the peaceful nature of Iran\\\'s nuclear energy program almost nine years ago. In a televised speech on Monday, Rohani said \\\"the Board of Governors [of the International Atomic Energy Agency] unanimously confirmed the peaceful nature of Iran\\\'s nuclear energy program in November 2004.\\\" \\\"We did not allow the nuclear dossier to be referred to the Security Council. In the course of one year, we proved the peaceful nature of our nuclear energy program,\\\" the presidential candidate stated. Rohani said that from October 2003 to August 2005 -- his term as Iran\\\'s top nuclear negotiator -- the country\\\'s policy, under the supervision of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, was to repel threats and \\\"to convert them to opportunities\\\" in order to disprove Western allegations that Iran is pursuing military objectives in its nuclear energy program, and to foil Washington\\\'s plots against the Islamic Republic. \\\"The US wanted to say that Iran is after a [nuclear] bomb. We wanted to prove that the US was lying. Iran was not pursuing a bomb, nor is it today or will it be tomorrow, because the Leader has said it is a grave sin,\\\" the director of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council said. The United States, Israel, and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program and have used the unfounded accusation as a pretext to impose illegal sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran\\\'s nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Iran\\\'s civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production. In Iran\\\'s June 14 presidential election, Rohani will be competing against Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, MP Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, former First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, former Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Velayati, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi. The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election, and the Guardian Council vets the candidates.

Iran\'s reformist presidential candidate Mohammad-Reza Aref has stressed the need for facilitating both domestic and foreign investment in the country, vowing to slash unemployment. In his televised speech on Wednesday night, Aref said, if elected, his administration would give assurances to Iranian investors and redirect people\'s money away from brokers and gold and foreign currency exchange markets to the country\'s industries. He also pledged measures to encourage foreign investment. \"Unfortunately the rate of foreign investment growth in Iran is below the international average and we are having an unfavorable situation,\" he said. Aref criticized the \"unacceptable\" rate of unemployment, especially among the country\'s university graduates, and promised to create over one million jobs annually. He said he would try to achieve the figure by boosting tourism, which he said would provide an annual 200,000 job opportunities, besides expanding the information and communications technology industry as well as the country\'s lucrative energy sector. \"We are planning to keep the added-value of energy products at home. We should try not to sell crude oil or natural gas,\" he stated. Aref also highlighted Iran\'s unique geopolitical situation and thus the opportunity for the country to become a regional hub in various fields, such as commerce, communications and goods transit. This will improve the country\'s economy and help the country\'s national security, the presidential candidate pointed out. Aref is vying against Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Secretary of Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, President of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi. The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election and this year\'s election is scheduled for June 14.

Presidential candidate Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says provincial development will be high on his list of priorities if he receives enough votes to win the election. Addressing a group of his supporters in Lorestan Province\'s capital city of Khorramabad on Tuesday, the principlist candidate said Lorestan Province is among the least developed regions in Iran, and its infrastructural development will be a top priority for his future administration. Tehran Mayor blamed mismanagement for the province\'s economic issues and promised to fix them as soon as possible. Qalibaf, President of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi are the eight candidates running for president.

14th June 2013 - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has cast his ballots in Iran\\\'s 11th presidential and 4th city and rural council elections as the polls officially opened across the country. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote minutes after the opening of the polls early Friday, the Leader stressed the importance of the Iranian nation\\\'s \\\"effective, timely, massive and enthusiastic\\\" participation in the elections. \\\"The dear Iranian people should enter the scene of elections with fervour and motivation, and [they should] know that the destiny of the country and prosperity of the nation depend on their presence and the choice they make,\\\" Ayatollah Khamenei stated. The Leader said the Iranian people play a key role in determining their fate, and that is the reason behind enemies\\\' propaganda campaigns against the nation. The enemies have made every effort to create voter apathy in Iran by trying to incite \\\"cynicism and despair\\\" among Iranians, Ayatollah Khamenei underlined. They have not stopped with media propaganda to achieve their goal, said the Leader, adding that Western politicians and figures affiliated with the enemies are now overtly trying to discourage people from taking part. Pointing to US officials\\\' dismissive remarks about the elections in Iran, the Leader stated, \\\"The views of enemies have never had any significance for the Iranian people, and the [Iranian] nation itself has always made decisions about what it needs and what is in the interest of the country, and has made and will make its choice on that basis.\\\" Ayatollah Khamenei recommended that Iranians cast their ballots at the earliest opportunity, adding that no one, not even those close to him, is privy to his vote. The Leader further expressed hope that the election results would benefit the country and people, and bring prosperity as well as material and spiritual welfare to the nation. Officials in charge of running the elections should know that the \\\"people\\\'s votes are left in their trust,\\\" Ayatollah Khamenei underscored. The Iranians began casting their ballots at 8:00 am (0330 GMT) on Friday with the polls scheduled to remain open for ten hours. The time can be extended if necessary. Six candidates, namely President of the Expediency Council\\\'s Center for Strategic Research Hassan Rohani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, Secretary of the Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi are running in the presidential election. Over 200,000 candidates are also running for city and rural council elections.

Amid the massive turnout of voters in Friday\'s elections, Iranian presidential candidates have joined the rest of the nation in casting their ballots. Shortly after the polls opened, independent candidate Mohammad Gharazi showed up at a polling station in southeast Tehran and cast his vote. Describing June 14 as a national day, Gharazi said the real winner of the elections is the Iranian people and stressed that whoever wins the race bears a great responsibility. Presidential candidate Hassan Rohani also cast his ballot on Friday morning. He urged all Iranians to make their presence felt on the political arena and further reinforce the Islamic Republic by turning out in force in the elections. After casting his ballot, Principlist candidate Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also emphasized that popular vote is tantamount to law, adding that the candidate who emerges victorious should be respected by all. Ali Akbar Velayati, another Principlist candidate, also urged Iranians to take part in the election fervidly, saying people\'s vote was the reaffirmation of the Islamic Republic. Independent candidate Mohsen Rezaei, for his part, urged a massive turnout in the elections. He called upon all Iranians to play an active role in determining their fate. Principlist candidate Saeed Jalili also called for a high voter turnout and stressed that all people should respect he who is elected. Polls officially opened in Iran for presidential, and city and rural council elections at 8:00 am (0330 GMT) on Friday and are scheduled to remain open for ten hours. The time can be extended if necessary. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei cast his ballot minutes into the polls. Nearly 50.5 Iranians are eligible to vote in the June 14 election. More than 1.6 million of those eligible are first-time voters. The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election. Over 200,000 candidates are also running for city and rural council elections.