During a televised address on Tuesday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, emphasized the need for high voter turnout in the upcoming presidential election after the sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month.
Khamenei stated that robust participation showcases the strength of the Islamic Republic. He remarked that past elections with low turnout faced criticism from adversaries of the state.
The upcoming election features six candidates, vetted and approved by the conservative-dominated Guardian Council from an initial pool of 80 applicants. The leading contenders include conservative Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the parliament speaker; Saeed Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator; and reformist Massoud Pezeshkian.
Historically, the 2021 presidential race saw significant disqualification of reformist and moderate candidates, facilitating an easy victory for Raisi, representing the conservative faction. That election recorded a turnout of 49%, the lowest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
In his speech, Khamenei also critiqued Iranian politicians advocating for engagement with the United States, which he termed an enemy state. Though he did not specify names, his comments targeted Pezeshkian, who has advocated for improved U.S. relations to alleviate harsh economic sanctions.
The next president will inherit numerous challenges, such as high inflation and unemployment, amidst regional conflicts and global concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
