Iranians vote in presidential election

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on all citizens to participate in Friday’s election after former President Ebrahim Raisi’s unexpected death. Khamenei said that the country’s longevity, stability, and honor depend on the people’s participation in the election after placing his vote in a ballot box while on camera. Iranians worldwide are taking part by casting ballots at their local embassies.

Who’s on the ballot? Iran’s Guardian Council approved six candidates to replace the conservative Raisi, barring 74 others. Two dropped out before election day, leaving parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and former government minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi running as conservative candidates. Former chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili represents hardline conservatives, while reformist parliamentarian Masoud Pezeshkian is running as a moderate.

What are some hot-button issues for Iranians? The country’s high inflation and controversial nuclear program have generated political concern, along with Iran’s financial backing of terror groups, such as Hamas. Results are expected by Saturday afternoon, according to the country’s Interior Ministry. However, many believe the election is a sham, including Iranian citizens.

Polling stations are empty as Iranians boycott the regime’s sham election, wrote the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, a domestic opposition group. Arabic newsgroup Iran International TV posted a video of poll workers taking naps from a low voter turnout. Iran’s election engineering has reached unparalleled levels of precision and coordination over the last five years, wrote the advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran. The group released a 34-page report with primary source research allegedly detailing how Iran’s military has rigged election results.

Iran nationals overseas have taken to protesting outside embassies. Footage showed a small crowd of demonstrators chanting outside the Iranian consulate and embassy in London. One protester refused to participate in the election, calling the process a government selection rather than a fair election. This Islamic regime is not the Iranian government, said another protester. Iranian embassies and consulates in Berlin and Hamburg had similar protests.

Dig deeper: Read Jenny Lind Schmitt’s report in WORLD Magazine on the United States sanctioning Iran for financially backing Hamas.