TEHRAN- The Iranian Interior Minister, Ahmad Vahidi, emphasized the significance of the upcoming March 1 election as a crucial moment for demonstrating the power of the people in defending the nation against external threats. 

Highlighting the pivotal role of this electoral event, Ahmad Vahidi underscored its global attention, stressing that both allies and adversaries are closely observing Iran's democratic process. 

He emphasized that a robust voter turnout would serve as a clear message of resilience to those seeking to undermine Iran's sovereignty.

Vahidi noted that ensuring the psychological well-being of the community and fostering a fair and competitive environment for candidates are key factors in encouraging widespread participation in the electoral process. 

Despite attempts by adversaries to sow doubt through rumors and misinformation, Vahidi expressed confidence that the Iranian people would not be swayed by such tactics.

He affirmed his faith in people's commitment to democracy and urged them to actively participate in shaping the country's future by casting their votes on election day.

Earlier on February 17, Minister Vahidi stated that 103 parties and 20 electoral coalitions have declared their readiness for the forthcoming late winter election.

He further revealed that several other coalitions are also gearing up for participation.

He stressed that while individual candidates are noteworthy, it is the strength of their plans and ideas that truly matter.

Also on February 16, Vahidi commended the qualification of an impressive number of 15,000 candidates. He highlighted the diverse backgrounds of the candidates, noting that among them are 1,100 professors, 250 doctors, 1,700 teachers, 400 judges, and 1,700 women, showcasing the breadth of expertise and representation within the pool of qualified candidates.
 
Back in early February, the Constitutional Council's spokesperson, Hadi Tahan Nazif, officially confirmed the approval of over 750 candidates for the upcoming parliamentary election.

He stated that a comprehensive evaluation process resulted in the qualification of a total of 14,200 candidates, with the final week focusing on scrutinizing appeal files.

The Constitutional Council remains dedicated to ensuring a thorough and transparent process ahead of the upcoming elections.

Mohammadreza Shahcheraghi, deputy minister of interior for political affairs and the head of election headquarters, said around 59,000 polling stations will be opened on the day of elections and nearly 800,000 people will be involved in holding the elections.

He added that parliamentary elections will be competitive throughout the country.
 
Legislative elections will be held on March 1.