WASHINGTON, USA: The United States announced that it does not expect any significant changes in Iran’s policies regardless of the outcome of the presidential election runoff.
The State Department declared the first round of the election neither free nor fair. Masoud Pezeshkian, labeled as a reformist, led the first round and will face ultraconservative Saeed Jalili in the runoff.
State Department spokesman Vedant Patel emphasized that these elections would not result in a fundamental shift in Iran’s direction or its respect for human rights.
Patel also questioned the reliability of the reported voter turnout, which was officially just over 40% of the 61 million electorate—a record low for Iran.
The election was expedited due to the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Patel pointed out that even the reported turnout figures from the Iranian government are questionable.
