Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has lauded the Iranian people for their "warm and passionate" turnout in the Friday presidential election, saying what they did in the face of boycott calls was a "brilliant and unforgettable job".

According to The Iran Project, Ayatollah Khamenei made the comment in a message he issued on Friday to the 58th meeting of the Union of Islamic Students Associations in Europe and America.

The message was released on Saturday on the Leader’s official website Khamenei.ir. Here is the full text of the message:

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Dear students!

Your deep-rooted, reputable union, along with the continuation of its activities, is a promising phenomenon. This collective presence – in its own capacity – can play a role in the current complex issues of the world. The ability to have an impact on major issues depends more on the motivation, faith, and confidence of the activists involved, than on their numbers or how well-equipped they are and this valuable asset, praise God, is present and evident in you, the faithful and Revolutionary Iranian youth.

You are familiar with important global issues and its fresh and old wounds. The most recent is the unprecedented tragedy in Gaza; the most prominent is the moral, political, and social failures of the West, its politicians, and Western civilization; the most instructive [global issue] is the inability of liberal democracy to establish freedom of expression and their fatal neglect of the issue of economic and social justice. The dim but encouraging glimmer of hope seen in the widespread [pro-Palestinian] protests, especially among students in the United States and Europe, is also an important current issue. The West Asia region and our beloved country also face numerous small and large issues.

All of these are grounds for thought, work, and initiative for a blessed organization like your union. I pray for your success from the Almighty and Wise God.

Seyyed Ali Khamenei