Iranians will cast ballots in legislative and key assembly elections on Friday, with conservatives expected to tighten their grip on power in the absence of any serious competition.
The vote comes amid mounting economic difficulties in Iran, which has also been grappling with the aftershocks of mass protests caused by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be the first Iranian to cast his ballot on Friday at 8am local time at one of the 59,000 polling stations.
"Everyone must participate in the elections," he said in a speech this month, urging "influential personalities" to encourage people to vote.
"The more fervent the elections, the more national authority and national security will be secured," he said of the vote, which will be held against a backdrop of soaring tensions in the Middle East.
The elections will take place amid expectations of a low voter turnout, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the country's leadership.
Who and what are Iranians voting for?
Iranians are voting for two bodies: the 290-seat parliament and the 88-seat Assembly of Experts.
Iran’s parliament is a unicameral legislature with responsibility for drafting legislation, ratifying international treaties and approving the country’s annual budget.
Voters will also decide who will make up the 88-member Assembly of Experts, a key legislative body that appoints the supreme leader.
Mr Khamenei, who turns 85 this year, has held the post of supreme leader since 1989.
Although the Assembly of Experts largely follows the supreme leader's guidance and rubber stamps his orders, it also has the power to dismiss him if he is unable to perform his constitutional duties or if it decides he should not have initially qualified for the role.
A total of 144 candidates have been approved to run for seats in the Assembly of Experts, for an eight-year term.
Moderate former president Hassan Rouhani said that he was barred from seeking re-election to the assembly after 24 years of membership.
What is the expected voter turnout?
More than 61 million of Iran's 85 million people are eligible to vote. A recent poll conducted by Iran's state television found more than half of respondents were indifferent to the elections.
Iran's current parliament was elected in a vote in 2020, during the Covid pandemic. The elections then had a turnout of 42.57 per cent – the lowest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
In Tehran, where less than 20 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots in 2020, election banners are noticeably less prevalent than in previous elections.
Who is running for election and who has been barred?
Analysts expect the elections to be dominated by conservative and ultra-conservative candidates, mirroring the make-up of the current parliament.
Aspiring candidates had to be vetted in order to be allowed to stand. The majority of candidates who put themselves forward did not pass the vetting process and were barred from standing.
Jurists in charge of the process approved only 15,200 applicants for the parliamentary elections – less than one-third of the 49,000 who registered, according to the latest statistics released by the Iranian government. For the Assembly of Experts, 144 candidates have been approved to stand for the 88 seats.
Iran’s constitution mandates five reserved seats in parliament for religious minorities. Two seats are set aise for Armenian Christians, and one each for Assyrian and Chaldean Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians.
Some critics of the government have also decided to boycott the elections.
The Reform Front, a key coalition of reformist parties, has said it would not take part in "meaningless, non-competitive, and ineffective elections".
Moderate former president Hassan Rouhani said he was barred from seeking re-election to the assembly after 24 years of membership.
Mr Rouhani said the election "should be a protest vote" for those who are opposed to "current conditions and seek transformation".
The powerful Guardians’ Council, a body appointed by the country's supreme leader and made up of 12 Islamic jurists, also disqualified more than a dozen incumbent MPs from seeking re-election.
The disqualified MPs include two members of the minority factions in parliament and several critics of a "hijab and chastity” bill that proposed extensive penalties for women opposing wearing the mandatory hijab.
Why does this election matter?
The elections will be the first since months-long protests sparked by the death of Ms Amini, 22, in police custody.
She had been arrested for allegedly flouting Iran's strict dress code for women.
Her death sparked nationwide protests under the slogan "Women, Life, Freedom", which challenged the role of Iran's morality police.
Those protests tapped into wider dissatisfaction with the political and economic management of the country and prompted a harsh crackdown from security forces in which more than 500 people were killed.
Iran's economy has also been reeling under US sanctions imposed over Tehran's nuclear programme.
Many in Iran have been struggling to make ends meet as they grapple with soaring inflation and a record depreciation of the rial against the US dollar.
The vote on Friday is also being held as Israel is fighting against the Iran-backed group Hamas in Gaza, following the October 7 attacks.
The conflict has drawn in other Iran-backed armed groups, including Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthi rebels.
Critics of the regime accuse it of spending vast amounts of money to fund militia groups across the region at a time when many in Iran are struggling financially.
The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
Men’s singles
Group A: Son Wan-ho (Kor), Lee Chong Wei (Mas), Ng Long Angus (HK), Chen Long (Chn)
Group B: Kidambi Srikanth (Ind), Shi Yugi (Chn), Chou Tien Chen (Tpe), Viktor Axelsen (Den)
Women’s Singles
Group A: Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn), Pusarla Sindhu (Ind), Sayaka Sato (Jpn), He Bingjiao (Chn)
Group B: Tai Tzu Ying (Tpe), Sung Hi-hyun (Kor), Ratchanok Intanon (Tha), Chen Yufei (Chn)
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Racecard
%3Cp%3E8.30pm%3A%20Wathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(Turf)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3E9pm%3A%20Yas%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3E9.30pm%3A%20Saadiyat%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3E10pm%3A%20Reem%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%3Cbr%3E10.30pm%3A%20Arabian%20Triple%20Crown%20Round%203%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(PA)%20Dh300%2C000%20(T)%202%2C400m%3Cbr%3E11pm%3A%20Al%20Maryah%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait
Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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3.
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m
Winner: AF Mozhell, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Majdi, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: AF Athabeh, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: AF Eshaar, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi
4pm: Gulf Cup presented by Longines Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Al Roba’a Al Khali, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Younis Al Kalbani
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Apolo Kid, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muahiri
