Over 350 Foreign Reporters Cover Iran's Parliamentary and Assembly of Experts Elections

Global Attention: Over 350 foreign reporters from 160 media outlets across 20 countries are covering the Iranian parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections.

Massive Participation: With voting starting at 8:00 local time, 61,172,298 eligible voters, including 30,945,133 men and 30,227,165 women, are participating. About 15,000 candidates, including 12% women and 88% men, are competing in the parliamentary elections, with 144 individuals contesting the Assembly of Experts elections.

Supreme Leader's Call: Ayatollah Khamenei, after casting his vote, emphasized the global significance of Iran's choices, urging citizens to participate early. He prayed for a blessed day for the nation.

President Raisi's Perspective: President Raisi, voting in Tehran, hailed the elections as a national celebration symbolizing unity. He praised the diverse political groups participating, making it a glorious day for Iran.

Extended Voting Time: Iran's interior ministry approved a two-hour extension until midnight nationwide. There are approximately 60,000 polling stations for the 61 million eligible voters, including 3.5 million first-time voters.

Acknowledgment and Departure: Before leaving for Algeria, President Raisi appreciated the organizers and observers for their service. He emphasized the significance of relations with Africa and Islamic states in Iran's foreign policy.

Diplomatic Focus: President Raisi's visit to Algeria for the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit includes discussions on trade, energy relations, and bilateral meetings with participating heads of state.

Shared Values: Both Iran and Algeria, Raisi highlighted, oppose unilateralism, share a common stance on supporting Palestine and Gaza, and play significant roles in OPEC, bringing the two nations closer in the Islamic world.

The elections mark a historic event with widespread international coverage, showcasing Iran's commitment to democracy and its role in global affairs. The extended voting hours and high voter turnout underline the nation's dedication to civic participation.