Zarif: Iranian People Main Supporter of Islamic Revolution

“Our people are the main supporter of the revolution,” Zarif told reporters at a polling station in Tehran on Friday after casting his vote.  

“To me, who is in charge of foreign policy and diplomacy, they (the people) are the main backer of our diplomacy,” he added.

The presence of people of different tastes and tendencies despite some disagreements within the society is an important sign that these people, with all their differences, want to determine their own destiny, the top diplomat went on to say.

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

In comments after voting just minutes after beginning the election, 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.