TEHRAN - Iran has lodged a formal protest with the United Kingdom over incidents of harassment directed at Iranian voters participating in the country's recent presidential election. 

Ali Matinfar, Iran's chargé d'affaires in London, revealed on Sunday that the Iranian embassy had sent a message to the UK Foreign Office expressing strong condemnation of the actions of anti-Iran elements who disrupted voting on June 28.  

While talking to Iranian media, Matinfar stressed the need for enhanced security measures to ensure the safety of Iranian citizens during the upcoming runoff election, scheduled for July 5th. He further indicated that he will raise this issue directly with British Foreign Office officials during meetings this week.

Thousands of Iranians residing in Britain visited polling stations in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, and Cardiff to cast their votes on Friday. They were subject to verbal, physical, and sexual abuse by anti-Iran individuals waiting outside the polling stations. 

Some of the attackers filmed themselves sexually abusing female voters by using derogatory terms against them and threatening them with rape. Some male voters were also attacked by individuals affiliated with terrorist groups, monarchists, and separatist factions. The predators later boasted on social media that they had managed to dissuade some voters through harassment. 

Despite the anti-Iran groups’ attempts at disturbing participants, voting continued without disruptions. At least six attackers were arrested by UK police in Birmingham, Manchester, and London.

The June 28 snap presidential election was held 40 days after President Ebrahim Raisi lost his life in a helicopter crash in Iran’s mountainous northwestern region. Either reformist Masoud Pezeshkian or conservative Saeed Jalili will be replacing the late Raisi after the run-off. Over 24 million Iranians voted in the first round of the elections.