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Iran Fears Low Turnout in Presidential Election

A woman casts her vote during parliamentary elections at a polling station in Tehran (File photo: Reuters)
A woman casts her vote during parliamentary elections at a polling station in Tehran (File photo: Reuters)
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Iran Fears Low Turnout in Presidential Election

A woman casts her vote during parliamentary elections at a polling station in Tehran (File photo: Reuters)
A woman casts her vote during parliamentary elections at a polling station in Tehran (File photo: Reuters)

The Iranian Minister of Interior, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, has expressed concerns over possible low turnout in the upcoming presidential election, scheduled for early June.

The official IRNA agency reported that Rahmani Fazli urged state governors during a video conference to ramp up preparations ahead of the election, saying that the political, social, and public opinion did not interact with the election.

"When we compare this election period with the past four years, we feel a little anxious," said Rahmani Fazli, adding that it is imperative that political parties become more involved in order to ensure a successful election.

Despite the economic pressures caused by the US sanctions and repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic, the country's security is in an acceptable position, and authorities will supervise and audit the whole electoral process, asserted the minister.

Iran recorded its lowest turnout in 41 years during the parliamentary election last February.

The participation rate in the parliamentary election, in which the conservatives won the majority of the seats, reached 25 percent in Tehran and 43 percent across the country, according to official figures.

Observers believe that the actual participation was less than that.

Meanwhile, sources close to former reformist President Mohammad Khatami denied reports claiming he was planning to run for the upcoming presidential election.

Khatami was president of Iran for an eight-year term, before leaving office to his successor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in 2005.

Mohammad Saduqi, Khatami’s nephew, announced on Instagram that the former president informed him on Sunday he was not a candidate, according to the reformist news agency ILNA.

Saduqi quoted Khatami as saying: "I will not run for the presidential election... It is not possible. We must not toy with the hopes and trust of the people.”

Khatami wants to ensure a suitable atmosphere for dynamic election with candidates of different orientations.

According to Saduqi, Khatami indicated that the large popular turnout in the upcoming election can ensure that hardliners will not win the majority.

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Ukraine Has Lost over 40% of Land It Seized in Russia’s Kursk Region, Senior Kyiv Military Source Says

A still image taken from an undated handout video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press-Service on 22 November 2024 shows Russian military volunteers of the “Bars-Kursk” formation patrolling in the village of Korenevo, Kursk region, Russia. (EPA/Russian Defense Ministry Press-Service Handout)
A still image taken from an undated handout video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press-Service on 22 November 2024 shows Russian military volunteers of the “Bars-Kursk” formation patrolling in the village of Korenevo, Kursk region, Russia. (EPA/Russian Defense Ministry Press-Service Handout)
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Ukraine Has Lost over 40% of Land It Seized in Russia’s Kursk Region, Senior Kyiv Military Source Says

A still image taken from an undated handout video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press-Service on 22 November 2024 shows Russian military volunteers of the “Bars-Kursk” formation patrolling in the village of Korenevo, Kursk region, Russia. (EPA/Russian Defense Ministry Press-Service Handout)
A still image taken from an undated handout video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press-Service on 22 November 2024 shows Russian military volunteers of the “Bars-Kursk” formation patrolling in the village of Korenevo, Kursk region, Russia. (EPA/Russian Defense Ministry Press-Service Handout)

Ukraine has lost over 40% of the territory in Russia's Kursk region that it captured in a surprise incursion in August as Russian forces have mounted waves of counter-assaults, a senior Ukrainian military source said.

The source, who is on Ukraine's General Staff, said Russia had deployed 59,000 troops to the Kursk region since Kyiv's forces swept in and advanced swiftly, catching Moscow unprepared 2-1/2 years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometers (531 square miles), now of course this territory is smaller. The enemy is increasing its counterattacks," the source said.

"Now we control approximately 800 square kilometers (309 square miles). We will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate."

With the thrust into Kursk, Kyiv aimed to stem Russian attacks in eastern and northeastern Ukraine, force Russia to pull back forces gradually advancing in the east and give Kyiv extra leverage in any future peace negotiations.

But Russian forces are still advancing in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin's main objectives were to occupy the entire Donbas, which consists of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and oust Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region.

"For Putin, the most important thing is to push us out of the Kursk region. I am sure that he wants to push us out by January 20," Zelenskiy told media, referring to when Donald Trump will be inaugurated as US president. "It is very important for him (Putin) to demonstrate that he is in control of the situation."

The source at the Ukrainian General Staff source reiterated that about 11,000 North Korean troops had arrived in the Kursk region in support of Russia, but that the bulk of their forces was still finalizing their training.

The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Reuters could not independently verify the figures or descriptions given.

Moscow, which occupies about a fifth of Ukraine, has not confirmed or denied the presence of North Korean forces in Kursk region.

RUSSIAN ADVANCE IN EASTERN UKRAINE

The General Staff source said the Kurakhove region was the most threatening for Kyiv now as Russian forces were advancing there at 200-300 meters (yards) a day and had managed to break through in some areas.

The town of Kurakhove is a stepping stone towards the logistical hub of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

Russia has about 575,000 troops fighting in Ukraine now, the source said, and aims to increase its forces to around 690,000.

Russia does not disclose numbers involved in its fighting. Reuters could not verify those figures.

Ukraine has sought to disrupt Russian logistics and supply chains by hitting Russian weapons and ammunition depots, airfields, and other military targets inside Russia.

After US President Joe Biden allowed Kyiv to fire US-supplied missiles at targets deep inside Russia, Ukraine last week fired US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow cruise missiles into Russia.

On Thursday, Russia launched a new medium-range ballistic missile into the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, in a likely warning to NATO.

Ukrainian officials are holding talks with the United States and Britain on new air defense systems capable of protecting Ukrainian cities and civilians from the new longer-range aerial threats.

The Ukrainian General Staff source said the military had implemented measures to bolster air defenses over Kyiv and planned similar steps for Sumy in the north and Kharkiv in the northeast.