Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s landslide victory in South Khorasan Province, with over 80% of the votes, sets a new record for the highest number of votes in the Assembly of Experts.
Iran’s president expresses gratitude to the Iranian people for defying adversaries and turning out at the ballot box in a remarkable display of national unity. Raisi’s remarks come in a letter addressed to the people of Iran, emphasizing their rejection of global arrogance and thwarting of attempts to destabilize the country.
In addition to the parliamentary elections, Iranians also elected 88 members for the Assembly of Experts.
As vote counting approaches conclusion across Iran following Friday’s vibrant turnout at polling stations, a notable trend emerges: citizens appear to favor individual candidates over coalitions backed by established politicians.
Initial results from Tehran suggest a potential decline in popularity for Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who finds himself ranked fourth among candidates with the highest vote counts.
In a significant turn, Mahmoud Nabavian, a conservative politician and incumbent MP, emerges as the top vote-getter in Tehran at 58 years old.
The election outcomes in Tehran also signal the rise of new faces in Parliament. Among them, Amir Hossein Sabeti, a 35-year-old Ph.D. holder and former political show anchor, secures the third-highest number of votes.
During this election cycle, prominent figures like Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, a key reformist candidate and former vice president, faced voter disapproval. Nobakht failed to secure representation in his hometown Rasht, attributed largely to criticism during his tenure as the head of the Plan and Budget Organization from 2016 to 2021.
Despite attempts to dampen voter turnout through Western propaganda campaigns, over 25 million people cast their votes on March 1, representing over 40% of eligible voters, mirroring the turnout rates of the 2020 legislative elections.
Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf also commends Iranians’ extensive participation, acknowledging its role in preserving Iran’s deterrence against political, economic, and military pressures from adversaries.
He underscores the significance of Iranians’ enthusiastic and sacrificial participation in upholding the principles of the Islamic establishment amidst economic pressures and cognitive warfare tactics employed by enemies.
