TEHRAN – At least 250,000 security personnel from the police, army, IRGC, and Basij will be overseeing the security of ballot boxes and polling stations across the country on Friday, a senior official from the Interior Ministry said on Monday. 

Seyyed Majid Mir-Ahmadi also emphasized that parliamentary candidates and their supporters must respect the law, stating that security forces will decisively confront any lawbreakers.

Aspiring individuals vying for seats in Iran's legislative body have already commenced their electoral campaigns for a term spanning four years.

A historic count of 15,200 candidates have received the nod from the scrutinizing panel overseeing the candidate selection process to compete for the 290 seats in the legislature, marking a significant milestone since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

Among the qualified candidates are 1,713 women, a notable increase from the 819 female contenders in the 2020 election. In the Tehran constituency alone, a staggering 3,545 candidates are contesting the elections.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi recently highlighted the conducive environment for a robust contestation among diverse groups holding varied political perspectives.

He stressed the critical need for candidates and their supporters to adhere strictly to the legal protocols governing the elections, advocating for a disciplined campaign devoid of mudslinging against opponents.

Meanwhile, the incumbent parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, is set to run from his native region, a remote northeastern constituency. He secured a seat in Tehran's capital four years ago.

Simultaneously, 144 clerics are slated to partake in the race for the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, acting as an advisory council to the Leadership of the Islamic Revolution, with a service tenure lasting eight years.

As per Iran's constitutional framework, the assembly holds the responsibility of overseeing the country's leader and determining a successor.

Ebrahim Raeisi, the president and the current assembly member, is eyeing re-election to the assembly from a constituency in South Khorasan province.

Western-based media outlets have been discouraging Iranian people from voting on Friday, asking them to refrain from showing up at the ballot box no matter what. Despite the ongoing propaganda campaigns, however, it is expected that a large part of the Iranian eligible voters will participate in the election similar to previous elections. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution has advised Iranians to ignore the calls and take part in determining the future of their country.