Voters in Tehran interviewed on Friday while waiting to cast their ballots in the presidential election expressed hopes that the new government will mitigate the impact of sanctions on livelihoods, maintain a strong foreign policy, and build partnerships with friendly countries.
Iranians started casting their votes on Friday at nearly 59,000 polling stations across the country in a snap presidential election which comes just weeks after the death of the late president Ebrahim Raisi.
Initially slated for 2025, Iran's 14th presidential election was quickly rescheduled following the tragic death of Raisi in a helicopter crash in the country's mountainous northwestern region on May 19.
Over 61 million Iranian citizens are eligible to vote for four candidates, including Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the parliamentary speaker; Saeed Jalili, the former top negotiator for nuclear talks; Mostafa Pourmohammadi, the former interior minister and justice minister; and Masoud Pezeshkian, the former health minister and reformist.
"Voting is a good way to show social unity. Only through unity and mutual understanding can we create economic growth and achieve development. We should work together to create prosperity in order to achieve the development of our country," said Alireza, a Tehran resident.
"I hope that the new government can stabilize Iran’s economy and overcome the current difficulties. The new government needs to stabilize the value of the national currency. Only when the economy is stable can people work, produce, and run their businesses better," said Ali, another resident.
"We must take measures to offset the impact of sanctions. If Western countries cared about us, they would be concerned about Iranian patients in need of medicine. But they do not. In the colonial system of the West, they do not care about the Iranian people", said Mohammed as he was waiting in front of a polling station to cast his ballot.
When asked about foreign affairs, most voters said they hoped Iran would not make concessions to the United States and the West and would strengthen its relations with allies.
"In foreign policy, Iran should not show weakness because once it shows weakness, the U.S. and the West will put more pressure on us. We should not make concessions, and at the same time, we should establish win-win relations with other, friendly countries, " Tehran resident Soros said.
According to Iran's presidential election law, a presidential candidate needs more than half the votes to be considered a winner. If none of the presidential candidates get half of the total, the election will go to a second round of voting, which will take place on July 5th.
Iranian voters call for economic stability, strong foreign policy, and cooperation
