Recap of Irans parliamentary, Assembly of Experts elections

According to The Iran Project, Iranians have cast ballots to elect 290 lawmakers who serve for a term of four years in the parliament known as Majlis, and 88 members of the influential Assembly of Experts with more than 61 million people eligible to vote across the country.

According to the announcement by Iran's election headquarters, about 15,000 individuals have been confirmed eligible to compete in the twelfth parliamentary elections, 12% of whom are women, and 88% are men.

Additionally, a total of 144 clergymen have also been chosen as the final candidates for the Assembly of Experts elections.

It should be noted that Iran has held 40 rounds of different elections, including presidential and parliamentary ones, since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Over 350 foreign reporters cover Iran elections

More than 350 foreign reporters were present in Iran to cover the news of the country’s national elections, according to an announcement by the media affairs and advertising department of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

The announcement said on Friday that the foreign reporters are from 160 different media of 20 countries.

Leader casts his vote

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei cast his ballot at a polling station in Tehran in the first minutes of voting.

"We ask the Almighty God to make today a happy day for the Iranian nation and that the results of the efforts of our dear people and those involved in the various issues of the elections may reach the desired results and benefit the Iranian nation," he stated after voting.

"Our dear nation should know that today the eyes of many people in the world, both individuals and politicians and those who hold prestigious national and political positions, are on Iran and you."

Iran's president casts his ballot

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi also cast his vote at the Interior Ministry’s polling station, praising elections in the country as a national celebration and a symbol of unity.

Raisi further appreciated the presence of all political groups which he said have come with their candidates to make a glorious day for the Iranian nation.

Former reformist president didn't vote

Reportedly, former President Mohammad Khatami, father of the Reform Party, did not vote.

His former vice president, Mohammad Ali Abtahi declared Khatami's abstention. It marks the first time that Khatami had sat out an election during the Islamic Republic's tenure. Seemingly, he was the most senior politician in Iran to refrain from voting.

'Women constitute 47 percent of voters in Iran elections'

A spokesperson for Iran’s elections headquarters has said women constitute 47 of voters in the country’s parliamentary and the Assembly of Experts Elections, while the remaining 53 percent are men.

Mohsen Eslami stated that the provinces of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Southern Khorasan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Lorestna, Qom, Golestan, Razavi Khorasan, Northern Khorasan, Ilam and Kerman have seen the highest voter turnout so far.

Iran police ensure security of elections

The spokesman for the Iranian police Brigadier General Saeed Montazer-al-Mahdi said 190,000 police forces were on duty to ensure the security of the elections.

"There is no law enforcement or security problem envisaged," Montazer-al-Mahdi said, adding, "Everything is under control from the borders to the center, and the country's border guards are on full alert and monitor border traffic."

Reporter : Fatemeh Khoshroo