The 14th presidential elections in Iran have commenced, with four candidates vying for the position. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, while casting his vote, emphasized the importance of a high voter turnout for the “endurance and dignity of the Islamic Republic in the world.”
The elections began with over 61 million eligible voters both within and outside the country. This round of elections is considered early due to the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
Candidates and Withdrawals
Following the withdrawal of Alireza Zakani and Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, two conservative candidates, the remaining contenders are Masoud Pezeshkian, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Saeed Jalili, and Mostafa Pourmohammadi. A group of reformists supports Pezeshkian’s candidacy, while conservatives, unable to form a coalition as in previous elections, have their votes divided among the other three candidates.
In this round of elections, the requirement of a stamp on the identity card has been removed, and individuals who are 18 years old can participate.
Calls for Voting and Emphasis on Resistance Values
Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, named the election day as a “day of vitality and joy” after casting his vote. He stated, “The enthusiastic presence of the people and the increase in voters is a definite need for the Islamic Republic.” He encouraged people to vote, adding, “The endurance of the Islamic Republic and its honor and dignity in the world depend on the presence of the people.”
Mohammad Javad Zarif, former Iranian Foreign Minister who supports Pezeshkian’s candidacy, also urged people to vote “so that no one dares to insult and sanction the people of Iran.” Zarif acknowledged existing grievances and dissatisfaction but argued that “being angry with the ballot box is not the solution.”
Hojatoleslam Abdullah Haji Sadeghi, the representative of the Supreme Leader in the Revolutionary Guards, stated that he would respect whoever is elected. He added, “The president must be someone who believes in the resistance front, someone who knows that if we want to have faith security today, we cannot ignore Gaza and Lebanon, and we cannot not be hostile to Israel and America.”
Khamenei’s representative in the Revolutionary Guards also added, “The higher the level of participation, the more powerfully the resistance front and the Islamic Revolution can continue its path.”
Both the arrangement of candidates before the elections and the statements of the country’s main officials indicate that one of the government’s concerns is people’s participation in the elections, and they are trying to get more people to participate in the elections. However, there are no signs of changes in the government’s domestic and foreign policies.
This is a summary of original Radio Zamaneh content crafted with the help of AI, edited by a Radio Zamaneh editor. To read the original article, click here.
