TEHRAN - Over 100,000 Iranians living outside the country cast their ballots in the first round of Iran's presidential election on June 28, according to Alireza Salimi, a member of the executive committee of the election. 

In an interview with Iranian media, Salimi highlighted the "enthusiastic participation" of Iranians overseas as a testament to their patriotism and love for their country. He cited an example of an Iranian citizen in India who drove for 24 hours to participate in the election.

The official noted in his conversation with IRNA that in some Western countries, Iranians showed up at the ballot box despite unrelenting harassment from anti-Iran groups waiting outside the designated polling stations. Reports show voters were subjected to verbal, sexual, and physical abuse. 

Elsewhere in his comments, Salimi criticized Canada for refusing to allow thousands of Iranian expatriates to vote despite its claims to uphold democracy. 

Iranian authorities previously announced over 100,000 eligible voters in Canada were stripped of their voting rights due to Ottawa’s decision. Iranians seeking to vote had to travel to two locations at Canada’s border with the United States to cast their ballots. 

The election resulted in a runoff between Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili, the two candidates with the highest vote totals, as no candidate secured an outright majority. The runoff election will take place on July 5.