Iran International
The vote tally from Iran's run-off parliamentary elections on May 10, conducted amid widespread voter apathy, shows that in Tehran and most major cities, over 90% of eligible voters stayed home.
The run-off elections were held for 45 of the 290 seats in the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles), with voting taking place in the capital and 21 other constituencies. This included two seats in Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, four seats in Tabriz, and two seats in Shiraz, both ranking as the fifth-largest cities in the country.
In Tehran, candidates vied for sixteen of the city’s total 30 seats. The preliminary results show a turnout of between 7 and 8 percent, marking the lowest voter participation in the history of the Islamic Republic. In the Greater Tehran Area alone, 7.75 million people were eligible to vote.
This voter apathy stems from widespread dissatisfaction in recent years, particularly following the severe crackdown on the Woman, Life, Freedom protests from 2022 to 2023, and the extensive disqualification of candidates not considered insiders by the current regime. The deepening of poverty also has convinced many that the Islamic Republic is simply incapable of governing for the good of citizens.
The election watchdog, the Guardian Council, not only barred political rivals such as reformists, but also many conservatives in these elections, leaving the battle to the most hardline among supporters of the Islamic Republic and its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The frontrunner in the run-off elections of Tehran, Bizhan Nobaveh who is a member of the ultra-hardliner Paydari Party has only gained around 270,000 votes, or 3.5 percent of eligible voters.
Nearly all candidates who have been elected so far were nominated by supporters of President Ebrahim Raisi.
Seyed Mahmoud Nabavian was the front runner in Tehran in the March elections with 597,000 votes, the least for a Tehran frontrunner in all elections since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Nabavian was among the fourteen candidates whose number of votes was over the minimum required to be elected in the first round on March 1, with 100,000 less than his own votes in 2016 when he came 52nd among the candidates in the capital. In the 2016 elections the 30th ranking candidate had over a million and the frontrunner, reformist Mohammadreza Aref, was elected with 1.6 million votes.
Turnout in Mashhad, Shiraz, and Tabriz is so far around 8, 15, and 8 percent, respectively.
Concerned about possible adverse consequences if they do not vote, in recent years many eligible voters, particularly civil servants, have voted, but cast blank or void ballots in protest to absence of acceptable candidates or to the general political, cultural, and economic policies of the regime. In the presidential elections of 2021, blank and void votes amounted to 3.7 million, around 13 percent of all votes.
The regime has always been deeply concerned about low turnout because officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, have always boasted that higher turnout in Iranian elections in comparison with some Western countries was proof of the regime’s legitimacy and popularity with its citizens.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, however, has thanked the Iranians for “creating an epic” as Iranian officials including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei usually say about turnout in elections.
The prince who is a top opposition leader, also mentioned that extremist factions on both the right and left within the Iranian opposition are hindering unity among groups with different persuasions.
While the Pahlavi family seems to enjoy a large measure of popularity in Iran, many among the Iranian opposition call themselves republicans and are opposed to the restoration of monarchy. Prince Reza Pahlavi has not advocated a return to constitutional monarchy, always insisting that after the downfall of the Islamic Republic, the people should decide the type of the democratic political system they prefer.
Prince Pahlavi was speaking in London at "The Future of Iran: Challenges and Solutions”, with several political activists in attendance in London.
At the beginning of the meeting, he stated, "The countries of the world should know that if diplomacy has failed, the main solution [to the Middle East crisis] is not military action but rather support for the people of Iran."
Israel has threatened to attack Iran's nuclear facility if the Islamic government obtains nuclear weapons, but Mr. Pahlavi in his speech ruled out the option and urged support for the people to overthrow the Islamic Republic.
He highlighted the disagreements among the political groups opposing the Islamic Republic, saying, "In a place where we know there are differences of opinion and taste, the people will make the final decision. It is the people who will decide the future of Iran."
However, he highlighted the importance of adhering to "rules of the game," stating that there are certain basic principles, among which "human rights are the most important."
He identified a secular political system and the territorial integrity of the country as other basic principles essential for uniting Iranian secular democratic forces.
Prince Reza Pahlavi emphasized that extremist factions on both the right and left of the opposition to the Islamic Republic prevent unity among the forces opposing the current regime in Iran.
After the 2022 nationwide uprising against the Islamic Republic, the Council of Solidarity for Democracy and Freedom in Iran held its first meeting at Georgetown University in Washington DC on February 10, 2023.
This council, which included diaspora members like Prince Reza Pahlavi, Hamed Esmaeilion, Shirin Ebadi, Abdullah Mohtadi, Masih Alinejad, and Nazanin Boniadi, published its "Charter of Solidarity and Organization for Freedom" on March 10, 2023.
The council eventually disbanded due to the departure of some of its members.
Masih Alinejad, a journalist and civil activist, previously commented on the breakdown of this coalition, saying, "Not only do Westerners have this question, but the people of Iran too, wondering how foreign governments can trust an opposition that is scattered like driftwood."
In February 2024, Hamed Esmaeilion spoke to Iran International about the reasons for his withdrawal from the Solidarity Council, stating that while the majority wanted to advance plans through the formation of specialized committees, a constitution, and mechanisms, there was "resistance from Mr. Pahlavi."
However, Prince Reza Pahlavi stated, "We must be able to show the countries of the world that we are not lacking in capability and management," adding, "We can show the world that there is another way besides attacking Iran's nuclear facilities."
He referred to the changing positions of the reformist forces in Iran, saying, "Even the reformists have become disillusioned with this regime and are looking for a point of connection with the opponents of the regime. Those whose hands are not stained with the blood of the people should have guarantees for the day after the regime's collapse."
In June 2022, the son of Iran's last Shah once again called for the unity of the people to overthrow the Islamic Republic, emphasizing respect for the diverse opinions and groups of the people, saying, "We should disavow those who engage in obscenity and confront ugly behavior with obscenity."
During recent years' nationwide protests, many protesters supported the Pahlavi regime, especially the founder of the dynasty, Reza Shah, chanting slogans like "Reza Shah, may your soul be joyful."