Iranians skeptical approaching presidential election: Mission Network News

By Lyndsey Koh

Iran (MNN) — State news IRNA in Iran announced the country’s presidential election to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi will take place on Friday, June 28. But Iranians are skeptical.

Presidential candidates can register beginning tomorrow until June 3. There will be a brief time to campaign before the election.

Iranian voter turnout — a litmus test for election confidence — has decreased significantly. Only 8% of voters participated in the final round of parliamentary elections in Tehran, just one week before Raisi’s death.

In recent elections under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the pool of candidates who can put their names on the ballot is extremely limited. Moderate and reformist opposition candidates are blocked.

Lana Silk, CEO of Transform Iran, says, “An election in Iran, for the last 40 years, hasn’t been free. It’s been incredibly controlled. So that sounds to me like some kind of meaningless charade to put another puppet in place that will continue to carry Khamenei’s will.”

“Of course, there is a constant power play happening and internal struggles with people trying to vie for positions of authority. And that will be interesting to watch to see who lands in those significant positions.”

Raisi was Khamenei’s protege and essentially next in line for the role of Supreme Leader. Whoever steps into the role of president in Iran will have notoriously large shoes to fill.

“In countries like this, when new people take on positions of authority, they want to make their mark. They want to be known for something and everyone wants to have significant actions associated to their role,” says Silk.

So for now, with the way elections are controlled and with the way who gets to even run for election [is] controlled, I don’t see anyone more moderate coming into that role. I see it only becoming more and more hardline.

As they head towards another election, Iranians need hope. Transform Iran uses various media resources to connect with Iranians and point them to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.

Check out Transform Iran’s ministry here.

Silk asks, “Pray that they hear the Good News, pray they connect with the message, and pray for us to continue to be able to minister to them, disciple them, and strengthen them as the Church grows in Iran.”

Header photo of Tehran, Iran. (Photo courtesy of Mohammad Amirahmadi/Unsplash)

Originally posted on: Mission Network News.