Tasnim � Secretary of Iran�s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani praised the massive presence in the ongoing elections across the country and said the people are the real winners of the polls.

�Fortunately, the massive presence of the people once again disappointed the enemy,� Shamkhani told reporters at a polling station in Tehran on Friday after casting his ballot.

�The people�s participation conveys only one message - that the enemy cannot undermine their unity even through using psychological warfare and adversary media,� he added.

�Undoubtedly, the people are the real winner of the elections,� the top security official went on to say.

Shamkhani also expressed the hope that those who are elected to the parliament would try their hardest to address the people�s concerns and problems.

The nationwide votes for the parliament and the midterm elections of the Assembly of Experts officially began in Iran on Friday morning.

In comments after voting just minutes after beginning the elections, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei described the election day as a �national celebration� and a day to �restore the civil rights of the nation�.

Ayatollah Khamenei also emphasized that participation in the election is a �religious duty�.

�The election guarantees the country�s national interests, and whoever is interested in the country�s national interests must take part in the election,� the Leader added.

Having gone through a formal qualification process by Iran�s Guardian Council, a total of 7,148 candidates, including dozens of Iranians from the religious minorities, are running for the parliament. There are 290 seats in the parliament up for grabs.