An enteprising Iranian blogger offers a translation in real time – partly his own and partly from the government-controlled channel Press TV – of Ayatollah Khamanei’s friday sermon. The transcript is repeated below with a word cloud I generated from Wordle. (I did remove some, ahem, colorful asides he inserted …)

Remember god,

Iran has gone through a lot since the revolution

Any of them could have put us in turmoil

Even from our neighbors

Our youth are in a materialistic world

In a time of turmoil

They don’t know what to do,

They need to understand spirituality,

They need to get back to spirituality,

But they don’t know how,

It’s been two centuries since the west has destroyed cultures,

But our nation wants to regain that spirituality back.

So that the revolution can be regained.

I swear to the holy Imams,

I ask you O god give us more faith

O God, I ask you to give us a calm and peaceful heart

O god, these oppressed people, give triumph over the enemy.

Protect them,

O god we do everything for you and only for you,

O God take our Salams and greetings to Mahdi (the hidden Imam)

I would like to say to our dear brothers and sisters,

I would like to speak about the issue of the election which is the important issue in our country

I have three issues to talk about,

In three different parts

I do have some things to tell the people.

One issue will be for the political members of the politicians,

I would like to also talk to the western countries,

And the leaders of their media

First issue is for the people,

I will only thank you,

I don’t like to talk too much,

I don’t like to use nice arguments only

Even if I do exaggerate, it won’t be enough to say what i have to say,

The elections of June 12 was a fulfillment of the nation’s responsibility

It was a proof of participation of the people that was a show of the love towards their system

It is similar but better than the democracies in other countries,

BUT

Those countries don’t have a democracy as good as ours.

The constitution of 1988

This is the largest number of people that have taken part in an election in Iran since the founding of the republic

And the passing of the constitution,

I would like to deeply thank you

The youngsters in our country showed especially,

that they are partaking in the political process since the beginning of the revolution.

Now we’ll see the same responsibilities from them that we saw during the Iraqi Aggression War

As for elections some people want one person others want someone else

This is natural

We saw everyone, men women, the young and the old,

People participating from all over the country to make this a success,

This election is a political defeat for your enemies,

For your friends all over the world a celebration.

A historic one,

People are showing love and loyalty for their Imam and martyrs

And for the system

This election was a religious democratic event

everyone saw it

It was a showing against the dictators and oppressive regime

And FOR a show of support for the religion and system.

We can see the results of the exams

Also another point about the election

The election of June 12 showed that people with beliefs and hopes and joys is living in this country.

The enemies are using it,

If our young didn’t have any hope,

They wouldn’t partake in the election

If they didn’t feel freedom, they wouldn’t vote.

Faith in the system has been shown by the massive participation.

The enemies target the belief and trust of people on that system

This trust is the biggest investment of the Islamic republic

They wanted to take it from us

They want it to shake our trust in this system

The enemies of the people of Iran will succeed when people won’t participate.

The system will be questioned.

Only when no one partakes in it.

We couldn’t compare that to anything that happens.

The enemy wants to make people believe that they have been fooled

It started 3 months ago.

I have been hearing enemies saying repeatedly that the elections will be fraudulent.

They had been preparing months in advance

This 30 year old system has not come about without sacrifices and hard work.

And people have a firm belief in it.

But the enemies want to shake that very belief.

The third point is,

These rivalries, between different candidates were transparent.

They were clean and clear cut.

And transparent

The enemies are trying through their media – which is controlled by dirty Zionists.

The Zionist, American and British radio are all trying to say that there was a competition between those who support and those who didn’t support the state

Everyone supported the state

I know everything about these candidates

I have worked with them.

I know all of them

I don’t believe in everything that they say

some of their views and practices can be criticized

I believe that some of them are better in serving the country

BUT the people have to make the choice.

It’s not my will

My choice wasn’t told to people,

And they were not asked to follow my views either

They decided on their own who to follow

So this is a competition within the state

It is not acceptable to change the appearance of the issue

this is evil if someone does that

there is no fight between people and state

No revolutionaries and anti-revolutionaries

This is between the state parties

people voted for these people with belief in the state

they came to the understanding that will be better for the state

then voted

These competitions and debates were very interesting.

It was very transparent

It was a blow in the face of those who say that this competition is just a formality

Forgetting that the candidates actually sat and talked.

positive aspect of the debates was that during the debate and TV conversation everyone spoke explicitly and openly

saying what they believed

Then some criticized the candidates

They had to respond to the criticism

They began to defend themselves

The positions and stances taken by people and groups were presented without any ambiguity

So people could hear what every candidate had to say

So that people could see all of this

So people could judge them all accordingly

People felt that in the Islamic state, they are not stranger

We don’t have US and THEM

Everything was open and transparent before the people

Everything was presented clearly

It became clear that people’s vote would rely based on the same judgments

People wanted to make their choices willingly

And according to their own tastes

Thus, the number of votes increased

People were able to have a better understanding of the views of the candidate

they were able to decide better

the debates were even extended to the streets and homes

So this added to the power of choice of the people

Such debates will strengthen the minds

to Help make better choices

BUT

They shouldn’t get to a point where they lead to major differences

Otherwise adverse effects follow

It would be good to be kept to the extent to which it existed during campaign

If it leads further, it will cause problems

it will be better to have such debates at the administrative level

We should carry these debates

to the administrative level

They should describe their policies

Defend themselves against criticism

People will have a chance to do that,

But we should try to overcome the negative aspects

Criticisms will be heard during the four years of a president’s term

We should try to address the negative aspects

We could see that people became irrational and emotional sometimes.

They tried to destroy the other side sometimes

Even we saw that the practice of the past was being questioned.

rumors were mentioned

accusations were leveled

Some statements made were not fair

government and governments of the past were criticized in an unfair manner

the entire 30 years were criticized unfairly

people became emotional

they said some unpleasant and unacceptable things

I watched the debates on TV

I enjoyed freedom of speech

i was happy that Islamic republic was there to help people make this choice

YET

the negative aspects made me unhappy

for their supporters this was also not good and they were disturbed by the unfair criticism

We saw this on both sides

In this Friday prayer sermon

I should mention of the realities of both sides

both sides can be criticized for such negative aspects of behavior

ON the one side, the president was insulted,

EVEN BEFORE the debates, 2, 3 months ago,

I used to see insulting statements against him,

Accusations were leveled against the president

against the legal president

he was wrongly accused

the president who is trusted by people was accused of lying

Are these good?

Fake records were made and then distributed around the country

we were aware of the situation

we knew what was published was not true

they insulted the president

said he was superstitious

they falsely accused the president by such words

on the other hand,

Similar things were done against the outstanding record of the Islamic Republic

Some important figures of the state were mentioned

People who have spent their lives for the state

I have never have mentioned names during prayers on Friday before but I have to now

Rafsanjani and Nateq Noori’s names have been mentioned

These gentlemen have not been accused of financial misdoings

But their relatives.

If you have anything against them, prove them legally through the courts

Unless it is proven, no one can be accused.

I have known Rafsanjani for a long time

he is one of the most prominent members of this revolution

he was one of the major fighters before the revolution

after the victory,

he was one the most influential members of the Islamic state

still is

he walked with the Imam

Still walking with him

he was almost martyred several times

he spent all his money on the revolution,

they young people should know about this fact

he has had many responsibilities now

president, leader of parliament

he has not made money out of the revolution for himself.

Same with Mr. Nateq Noori

he has also served this revolution

He has rendered great services

there is no doubt about it

but the live TV debates are good

but these shortcomings should be removed

after the debates I talked to the president and warned him

he said he will listen to me.

the admin has a clear stance on corruption

It should be fought anywhere it is found

Yes there is corruption within our system.

YES there are people who are corrupt.

But at the same time,

It is one of the one of the healthiest system in the world as well

but then accusing the government of corruption because of Zionist reports is not the right thing

questioning the credibility of the government is not corrects either.

Everyone is obliged to fight corruption.

If it is not brought under control, it will spread like it has in some western countries

They are up to their ears in this corruption

this is part of their scandal

it goes way beyond than it is publicized

Let me talk to people

To make this absolute victory a failure,

is some people’s goal

To not let you enjoy

to not let the world register the highest rate of turn out

but it has been registered

The highest rate of turn out has been registered in your name

The race has ended

whoever has voted for these candidates will receive divine reward.

they all belong to the state

they have gotten closer to god by voting, they have

there were 40 million votes for the revolution,

not just 24 million for the winner

The people have trust

Their votes will not go in vain by the people.

The legal mechanism in our country won’t allow any cheating.

Those are involved in the election process are aware of this fact

Especially if there is an 11 million votes difference

If it were little than that, we would say there’s doubts,

but how can 11 million votes be replaced or changed?

At the same time

I said this and the guardian council believes that whoever has doubts can present proof to the legal channels.

I will not accept any illegal initiative.

Today,

If the laws are broken today,

No election will be immune in the future

in every election,

there are losers and winners

no other election will ever be trusted if you take other avenues.

thus, all legal procedures should be observed

If there are any doubts, the issue should be followed by legal procedures

we have laws

the candidate’s representatives had the right to inspect the ballot stations

And to make complaints

through the legal procedure

If they have doubt, it should be recounted – the individual ballot boxes.

Today is a very sensitive moment in our country

look at the Middle East

look at the economic situation in the world

look at Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan

VERY sensitive juncture in history, we are in.

we should be careful to not make mistakes

the voters’ duty was to take part in the elections in the best possible manner

but we have a bigger responsibility

political party leaders should be very careful about what they say and do

if they do anything extremist, their radical moves will moves will take them to where it won’t be solvable

we’ve seen this happen before

when extremism is forced upon a society, it leads to another one

if political elite want to fix someone at the cost of another thing

to BREAK the law

they would be responsible for the bloodshed

And any form of unrest

I would like to advise all these gentlemen,

All my brothers and friends

Just observe the hands of the enemy

They are hungry wolves

ambushing and removing the diplomacy cover from their faces

Don’t underestimate them.

I will tell you,

diplomats of other countries in the past few days have taken away their masks and showing their true image

The most evil of them all is the British Government.

I should tell these brothers,

you are responsible before god

you will be asked questions

remember the last will and testament of the late imam

the law determines what should be done

elections are held so that any difference should be settled at the ballot box

it should become clear there.

what people want and what they don’t want

not on the streets

if after every election those who haven’t gotten votes start to have street camps and invite their followers to come to the streets,

And the winners’ followers take their followers to the streets,

Then why did we hold elections to begin with?

what have the people done wrong?

They live on these streets

That we want to show them we can do such things

For terrorists it is different

infiltrating terrorist will hide behind these people.

if you make covers for them, then who’s responsible?

people have been killed from ordinary people and the Baseej

Who’s responsible?

The issues is that some people have killed Baseeji forces and killed other people,

who should address this issue?

Who should react?

attack at universities,

Good students were beaten up

not the ones who were involved in riots.

then they chant slogans of supporting the leader.

Then you become unhappy and your heart is hurt to see all this.

street wrestling is not acceptable after the elections

this is challenging democracy and election

I want both sides to put an end to this

then the responsibility of the consequences should be shouldered by those who aren’t putting an end to it.

by thinking that by turning out onto the streets that you can pressure the officials your demands is wrong.

first of all.

it will not be acceptable to submit to illegal demands

this would be the start of dictatorship.

This is a miscalculation,

If there are any consequences, they would directly affect the leaders behind the scene

the people would know them in due time as well.

I call on all these dear friends, brothers and sister to observe the law

to follow the legal code

the law welcomes you

legal channels are there for you

i hope that almighty god will help us all to follow the legal channels.

don’t allow the enemies to destroy and ruin the celebration of our elections.

If there are people who choose other paths, I will come and talk to people even more exclusively.

now, third

I want to talk to the media leaders and leaders

I have witnessed the statements of American and EU countries’ leaders and listening to them.

I have monitored their actions and reactions in the past few weeks,

Before and after the elections,

Their behavior was different

First, before the elections, their media orientation and their statements made was they wanted to

Cast out the hearts of the people a feeling that the election was useless to cut the turn out,

They could guess the results,

but they never expected 85%

40 million voted

they never believed this

after they witnessed this, they were shocked

they learned what a great development in Iran has taken place

they found out they had to adjust themselves to this new situation

to the Middle East, Iran and the world

they learned that a new chapter has opened in connection related to the Islamic Republic.

This great turn out was observed

they reported it time and again

they were all surprised since Friday morning

some of the reactions and feedback to these correspondents were also noticed

when they saw objections by some candidates, they saw an opportunity

they used it from Saturday to Sunday

their tone changed

they slowly saw these protests

which were held by the invitation of the candidate

they became hopeful

their masks were removed

they saw a way

they revealed their true nature

a number of heads of states and other leaders of EU and America made statements that clarified the true nature of those leaders.

it was said on behalf of the US president that he was waiting for a day that people came out to streets.

Inside the country

their agents started their action

they started to cause riots in the street

they caused destruction

burnt houses,

theft and insecurity prevailed.

the people felt unsafe and insecure

this has nothing to do with supporters of the candidate

this is the servants of the westerners

Zionist agents and their servants.

What was clumsily done inside Iran by some, made them greedy

they thought that Iran is Georgia.

An American Zionist capitalist some time ago claimed that he had spent ten million dollars and created velvet revolution in Georgia

They are comparing the Islamic Republic with GEORGIA!?

What do you think we are?

You don’t understand us.

What are you talking about?

what is the worst thing to me in all this

are comments made in the name of human rights

and freedom and liberty

made by American officials

they said that we are worried about Iranian nations

WHAT? Are you serious?

Do you KNOW what human rights are?!

Who did that in Afghanistan?

The wars and bloodshed

Who is crushing Iraq under its soldier’s boots?

in Palestine?

Who supported the Zionists?

even inside America

During the time of the democrats

Time of Clinton

80 people were burned alive in Waco?

Now you are talking about human rights?

Well,

I believe that the officials of America and EU should feel some embarrassment

shouldn’t say anything like that

Islamic republic supports oppressed people of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine

we support all those who are oppressed

we are supporting the flag of human rights

flag of humans is raised in this country by Islam

we don’t need advice about human rights

My speech about the election is over.