RNA - “The election gives a hard slap in the face of enemies such as the US and Zionists,” the top cleric told reporters after casting his ballots in the parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections on Friday morning.
Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani predicted that today’s votes will mark an epic event.
The remarks came as Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei called on the Iranian nation to attend the ongoing elections to boost the country’s honor and strengthen its independence.
Polling stations across Iran opened at 8 am on Friday morning and are scheduled to work for 10 hours.
Some 54.9 million Iranians are eligible to cast their votes in the two elections.
There are 290 seats in the Iranian parliament, elected by direct vote of people in nationwide election for four years.
The Assembly of Experts is also a high-ranking body that elects and oversees the activities of the leader of the Islamic Revolution.
Members of the 88-seat assembly are directly elected to office by people for an eight-year term. It holds biannual meetings to appoint a new chairman.
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