On Friday, Iran will hold its parliamentary elections. However, analysts are keeping a close watch to see exactly who will be showing up to vote in the upcoming election.
The country is facing widespread concern as citizens are concerned about a poor economy, mass protests that seem to be cyclical, and the never-ending tensions with the West due to Iran's refusal to give up its nuclear program, as well as its unwavering support of Russia in its war on Ukraine.
Because of those issues, analysts believe many Iranians may not show up to the polls at all.
Election officials in Iran have urged voters to cast ballots but there will be no public information released from the state-run polling center in this year's election, according to the Associated Press.
Information about expected turnout had been standard during prior election seasons. Its absence here is telling. Only five out of 21 Iranians interviewed by AP said they planned to vote.
Thirteen explicitly stated they would not, while three said they were undecided.
"If I protest about some shortcoming, many police and security agents will try to stop me," said Amin, a 21-year-old university student who gave only his first name for fear of reprisals. "But if I die from hunger on the corner of one of the main streets, they will do nothing."
Iran has further increased its total stockpile of uranium, a UN nuclear watchdog report says. Additionally, the United States has promised a fresh round of sanctions against Iran for providing Russia with missiles and drones.
15,000 candidates are fighting to win a seat in the 290-member parliament, which is called the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
What Is Next?
Power in Iran rests with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but parliament is supposed to have oversight over the executive branch, votes on treaties, and other issues.
Hard-liners have used tensions with the West to control parliament for over 20 years.
In 2020, the legislature pushed forward a bill that stymied and curtailed Tehran's cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
When former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew America from Iran's nuclear deal with world leaders, tensions were raised anew as observers noted that Tehran was currently in possession of enough uranium to fuel several atomic weapons.
In 2022, the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody over Iran's mandatory hijab laws led to nationwide protests in the country, which themselves were squashed by security forces. 500 people were killed and 22,000 detained.
Calls for an election boycott have spread in recent weeks, including from imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, a women's rights activist, who called them a "sham."
"The Islamic Republic, with its ruthless and brutal suppression, the killing of young people on the streets, the executions and the imprisonment and torture of men and women, deserves national sanctions and global disgrace," Mohammadi said in a statement.
