Iranian voters are heading to the polls on Friday to elect the country’s next parliament and the powerful Assembly of Experts.
Thousands of polling stations across Iran opened on Friday morning at 8 o’clock at the order of the Minister of Interior, Ahmed Vahidi to elect the members of the 12th round of the Iranian Parliament and the 6th round of the Assembly of Experts.
Over 61 million people across the country are eligible to vote.
Voters are taking part in the parliamentary elections to choose 290 members of the legislative body from over 15,000 candidates. Elected members will serve for a term of four years in the parliament.
In another election being held simultaneously, participants are voting for 88 members of the Assembly of Experts, a deliberative body elected for eight years which is tasked with choosing the leader of the Islamic Republic.
99-year-old woman casts her vote:
Shamkhani casts his votes:
Ali Shamkhani who served as the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council of Iran from 2013 to 2023 and is the current advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution for Political Affairs cast his vote at Hazrat Wali Asr Mosque which is for Khuzestanis living in Tehran on Friday.
Over 250,000 forces ensure the security of elections: official
Iranian Interior Ministry’s Deputy for Security Affairs Majid Mirahmadi said on Friday over 250,000 forces have been tasked with ensuring the security of elections and guarding the polling sites.
Mirahmadi said on Friday morning that long queues of voters have been formed at many polling stations across the country, describing it as a major epic.
He noted that full security prevails at all polling stations thanks to the efforts by the security and intelligence organizations.
Mirahmadi added that over 250,000 forces have been tasked with ensuring the security of elections and guarding the polling places.
Mehran border crossing polling station:
People at a polling station at Mehran Border Crossing on the shared border with Iraq cast their votes.
AEOI head casts his vote:
The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami cast his vote in Lavizan Grand Mosque in Tehran on Friday morning.
Judiciary Head Ejei casts his vote:
Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, the Head of Iran’s Judiciary, cast his vote in Lavizan Grand Mosque in Tehran on Friday morning. Speaking to reporters, Ejei said that the elections bring prestige to the country and would disappoint the nation’s enemies.
“No doubt, the enthusiastic and maximum people’s turnout in today’s elections, not only increase the prestige of the country and the happiness and joy of the friends of Islamic Iran, but also will cause more despair and frustration for the enemies and evil,” the Judiciary head said.
Parliament speaker Ghalibaf casts his ballot:
The speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf cast his ballot at a polling station in a mosque in Harandi Neighbourhood in Tehran.
Iranian Olympic medalist casts his vote:
Javad Foroughi, scored 244.8 and set a new Olympic record at the Olympic GamesTokyo 2020 cast his ballot at a polling station and called on the people for a high turnout at the elections to frustrate enemies.
Elections have no loser: Raeisi
Speaking to reporters after casting his ballot in a Tehran’s polling station, the Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi said that the people’s votes in the elections would decide the government in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“The winner of this field of the elections is the Iranian nation and there is no loser because everyone has fulfilled their duty, which is turning out to the votes,” the president said.
VIDEO: Sanandaj’s people go to polls
People in Sanandaj in Iran’s Western Province of Kordestan cast their votes at a polling station in Sanandaj Grand Mosque.
IRGC Aerospace commander says elections bring security to country:
Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) cast his ballot at a polling station in Abouzar Mosque in Tehran. Talking to the reporters, he said that the people’s turnout at the polling stations would fill the magazine arms of the armed forces, which creates security.
Leader of Islamic Revolution casts his ballot:
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei cast his ballot at a polling station in Tehran in the first minutes of voting.
Ayatollah Khamenei called for a high turnout to disappoint enemies and ill-wishers.
He further addressed the people who are still doubtful that the votes can bring changes to the country to seize the opportunity and go to the polling stations to cast their ballots.
