Tehran Prepares for Elections as Public Discontent Simmers

Iran stages parliamentary elections on Friday, marking a critical moment for the clerical regime amid escalating civil unrest and deepening economic woes. The elections come after a year of significant anti-government protests, the most severe since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, questioning the legitimacy of Iran’s theocratic system among a predominantly young population frustrated by economic hardship and restrictive governance. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared voting a religious obligation, while Islamic Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami likens each ballot to a missile against Iran’s adversaries. However, memories of the harsh suppression of protests in 2022, sparked by the death in custody of a young Iranian-Kurdish woman detained for wearing her hijab “improperly,” loom large, as does disillusionment with the clerics’ handling of an economy battered by US sanctions and internal mismanagement. With soaring inflation and living standards in decline, many Iranians may abstain from voting in what critics label an “unfree and unfair” election. The contest is expected to be between hard-liners and conservatives, with significant political figures and reformists on the sidelines. The Guardian Council, a vetting body closely aligned with Khamenei, has approved 75% of candidates for the 290-seat parliament, which holds limited sway over major policy decisions.