Iran’s parliamentary elections recorded the lowest rate of voter participation since the Islamic revolution. The example of Tehran is more prominent. only 24 percent of voters participated in the voting, 240,000 ballots were declared invalid. Nevertheless, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps expressed gratitude to the citizens of Iran and stated that “hostile plans failed to be implemented.”
Ahead of the parliamentary elections in Iran, certain circles, which were echoed by the pro-government press of Azerbaijan, predicted a “Baluchi uprising”. During that time, Iran and Pakistan exchanged rocket-artillery strikes, but the parties managed to quickly overcome the crisis and, at least apparently, to agree not to interfere in each other’s internal affairs, to respect territorial integrity and sovereignty.
When saying “failure of hostile plans”, the IRGC probably means some project to “blow up” Iran from the inside, which really did not come true, at least at this stage. The problem is how strong or stable is a government that went to the parliamentary elections with the confidence of only forty percent of the population. Moreover, the Ministry of Internal Affairs extended the voting period twice.
Most experts consider that the election of the parliament is not fundamental for the current government, the elite focused on the election of the so-called Assembly of Experts. It is a body that should choose the de facto leader of the Islamic Revolution and Iran, when the current Leader Ali Khamenei will bid farewell to earthly life.
By what principle are the candidates nominated for membership of the Assembly of Experts, professional Iranologists will know the details.
We are dealing with a fact. Former President of Iran Rouhani and members of the late former President Rafsanjani’s team were not allowed to participate in the Assembly of Experts elections. It is believed that “the team of reformers has been isolated”. Here, according to informed sources, the position of the IHPK command was decisive.
At this stage, it is crucial to understand whether the religious fanaticism of the IRGC continues to support the “axis” of the Shia direction in the Middle East, or whether it can choose the orientation of pan-Islamic solidarity. On the eve of the parliamentary elections, the Iranian president severely criticized the Islamic states for maintaining economic ties with Israel. Experts have the impression that Turkey “failed to unite the countries of the Sunni direction of Islam.” At the beginning of the year, Ilham Aliyev ranked himself among the “pioneers of the fight against Islamophobia”.
Fundamental analysis is very important in predicting Iran’s regional and international role in the foreseeable future. Can the Islamic Republic choose a path of reformation, will it remain a Shi’ada “arch” leader, or will it unite with the Sunni Muslim world? The first option seems to be ruled out.
