Iranians go to the polls again ... or will they?

JEDDAH: The last two candidates in Iran’s presidential election run-off have held their final rallies before voters go to the polls on Friday.

Ultraconservative Saeed Jalili addressed a mosque in Tehran while his “reformist” rival Masoud Pezeshkian spoke at a nearby sports stadium. Despite crowds of supporters, authorities fear a repeat of last week’s embarrassingly low turnout, when less than 40 percent of those eligible bothered to vote.

At his rally, Jalili promised “strength and progress” as posters of the late former President Ebrahim Raisi adorned the mosque walls, with the slogan: “A world of opportunities, Iran leaps forward.”

Chants from his supporters of “All Iran says Jalili” echoed round the room. Women dressed all in black sat in a designated section, separated from the men. One backer, Maryam Naroui, 40, said Jalili was “the best option for the country’s security.”
At Pezeshkian’s stadium rally, women in colorful hihabs mingled with the men. “We can manage our country with unity and cohesion,” Pezeshkian told them. “I will resolve internal disputes to the best of my ability.”

Pezeshkian has promised to oppose “morality police” patrols enforcing the mandatory headscarf and to ease long-standing internet restrictions. One of his supporters, Sadegh Azari, 45, said: “I believe if Pezeshkian wins ... the people will have hope for the future.”