Supreme Leader Asks Iranians to Disappoint Enemies by Mass Participation in Elections

“Elections are always important and they are more important in some junctures. I advise all people as before to participate in the elections,” Leader of the Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei  said after casting his vote in Tehran in the early hours of voting on Friday morning.

“Anyone who loves Iran, the Islamic Republic and national honor, greatness and glory should take part in these elections,” Supreme Leader added.

“We have enemies who are witnessing elections with their greedy eyes and our choice (of candidates) should disappoint the enemy,” Leader of the Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei said.

Supreme Leader wished success for the entire nation in elections, and expressed the hope that the vote would bring progress and honor for the country.

Leader of the Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei made the remarks after registering the list of his favorite candidates in the ballot paper and casting his vote in the parliamentary and assembly of experts elections in Iran on Friday morning.

Other Iranians also began voting in the country’s 10th parliamentary and 5th assembly of experts elections at 8 a.m. (0430 GMT) Friday morning. The polling stations are slated to close at 6:00 p.m. (1430 GMT) but the deadline would be extended if there is heavy turnout.

According to Iranian interior ministry figures, about 6,229 candidates have been cleared to compete for the 290-seat legislature but 729 of them have withdrawn from candidacy. More than 5,500 Candidates from all the three major camps – the Principlists, Moderates and Reformists – have carried out the final registration to run in the race.

Iranians are also going to the polls to elect 88 jurisprudential experts out of more than 800 prospective candidates for the 5th Assembly of Experts.

The 88 members of the Assembly will also be directly elected. The winning candidates of the Assembly of Experts’ next term, lasting until 2024, possibly might have to choose the next Supreme Leader of Iran, or at the very least plan for it.

Over 53,000 polling stations have been set up for people to elect representatives to the parliament.

Hundreds of foreign reporters are in Iran to cover the Friday parliamentary elections in the country.

54,915,024 Iranians are eligible to vote in the elections.