TEHRAN- Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri said on Tuesday that the Iranian armed forces play a fundamental role in increasing societal insight, enthusiasm, and people’s turnout in elections by enhancing the awareness of beloved Basijis and ensuring election security.

Addressing an event with the participation of Iran’s top military commanders and brass, General Bagheri referred to the March 1 elections as a significant event. 

He also noted that the parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections have important roles in determining the country’s destiny and advancing the goals of the establishment and the Islamic Revolution.

“Both individually and organizationally, we have very heavy responsibilities in both elections. We must strive to increase our awareness in a way that each of us will eagerly and enthusiastically approach the ballot boxes and make a rational choice,” he added. 

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces continued, “Recent opinion polls show that the level of enthusiasm among people to participate in voting is growing, and what happens this week will certainly have a fundamental impact on increasing the enthusiastic participation of the people.”

Also on Monday, Seyyed Majid Mir-Ahmadi, a senior official from the Interior Ministry, stressed that 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.

He 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.

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.

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.

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 percentage 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.