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Version 2 Version 3
As Iranians Vote, Khamenei Assails United States As Iranians Vote, Khamenei Assails United States
(about 1 hour later)
TEHRAN — Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, was among the first to cast a ballot in the presidential elections on Friday, and took the opportunity to denounce the United States for what he called its propagandist attempt to belittle the vote.TEHRAN — Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, was among the first to cast a ballot in the presidential elections on Friday, and took the opportunity to denounce the United States for what he called its propagandist attempt to belittle the vote.
“The enemies have made strenuous attempts to prevent people from coming to the polling stations through creating disappointment and pessimism,” the ayatollah said as the voting began. . “The enemies have made strenuous attempts to prevent people from coming to the polling stations through creating disappointment and pessimism,” the ayatollah said as the voting began.
Addressing American skepticism about the outcome, he told reporters: “To hell with you if you do not believe in our election. If the Iranian nation had to wait for you to see what you believe in and what you do not, then the Iranian nation would have lagged behind.”Addressing American skepticism about the outcome, he told reporters: “To hell with you if you do not believe in our election. If the Iranian nation had to wait for you to see what you believe in and what you do not, then the Iranian nation would have lagged behind.”
He was responding to comments from Secretary of State John Kerry, who said last month in Washington that he expected no change in Iran’s nuclear policies because Ayatollah Khamenei is responsible for the program.He was responding to comments from Secretary of State John Kerry, who said last month in Washington that he expected no change in Iran’s nuclear policies because Ayatollah Khamenei is responsible for the program.
“I do not have high expectations that the election is going to change the fundamental calculus of Iran,” Mr. Kerry said. “This is not a portfolio that is in the hands of a new president or the president; it’s in the hands of the supreme leader. And the supreme leader ultimately will make that decision, I believe.”“I do not have high expectations that the election is going to change the fundamental calculus of Iran,” Mr. Kerry said. “This is not a portfolio that is in the hands of a new president or the president; it’s in the hands of the supreme leader. And the supreme leader ultimately will make that decision, I believe.”
Polling stations opened at 8 a.m., and the ayatollah told reporters after he voted that the candidates do not matter, but the country does.Polling stations opened at 8 a.m., and the ayatollah told reporters after he voted that the candidates do not matter, but the country does.
“I urge all to vote,” he said.“I urge all to vote,” he said.
More than 50 million eligible voters were choosing from a field of six remaining candidates who had been accepted by the conservative Guardian Council. The front-runners were widely considered to be Mayor Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf of Tehran, the nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, and a cleric, Hassan Rowhani.More than 50 million eligible voters were choosing from a field of six remaining candidates who had been accepted by the conservative Guardian Council. The front-runners were widely considered to be Mayor Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf of Tehran, the nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, and a cleric, Hassan Rowhani.
In Tehran, a random querying of voters at polling stations around the city suggested that at least three-quarters favored either the mayor or Mr. Rowhani. Very few said they were voting for Mr. Jalili, who is considered the government’s favored candidate. But voter sentiment in Tehran is not necessarily indicative of patterns elsewhere. The top election official in Tehran Province, which includes the capital and is the country’s largest urban area, said he believed 70 percent of voters would cast ballots by day’s end. “The political epic that the leader expected took place,” the official, Safar Ali Baratloo, head of the Election Headquarters of Tehran, was quoted as saying by the Iranian Students’ News Agency.
A random querying of voters at polling stations around Tehran suggested that at least three-quarters favored either the mayor or Mr. Rowhani. Very few said they were voting for Mr. Jalili, who is considered the government’s favored candidate. But voter sentiment in Tehran is not necessarily indicative of patterns elsewhere.
Mr. Rowhani has been promoting more freedom and rights for women, and is supported by former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, 78, who was disqualified by the council, with his age given as the official reason.Mr. Rowhani has been promoting more freedom and rights for women, and is supported by former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, 78, who was disqualified by the council, with his age given as the official reason.
Mr. Rowhani was drawing a number of votes in Geysha, a middle-class neighborhood. “He will change this country,” said Golnaz, 20, who refused to give her family name for security reasons. “We need change.”Mr. Rowhani was drawing a number of votes in Geysha, a middle-class neighborhood. “He will change this country,” said Golnaz, 20, who refused to give her family name for security reasons. “We need change.”
In 2009, Iranians in the cities voted in large numbers for two reformers, the former prime minister Mir Hussein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi. After they lost to president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, street protests lasted for months and propelled both candidates into opposition roles. They have been under house arrest for two years.In 2009, Iranians in the cities voted in large numbers for two reformers, the former prime minister Mir Hussein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi. After they lost to president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, street protests lasted for months and propelled both candidates into opposition roles. They have been under house arrest for two years.
In several polling stations across Tehran, a city of 12 million people, many voters said they cast their ballots for Mayor Ghalibaf, who has used Iran’s record oil income of the past decade to improve the capital’s infrastructure.In several polling stations across Tehran, a city of 12 million people, many voters said they cast their ballots for Mayor Ghalibaf, who has used Iran’s record oil income of the past decade to improve the capital’s infrastructure.
“He is a war veteran, a good manager and a religious person,” said Noushin Sobhani, 31, a gynecologist. She and her parents voted at the Imam Sadegh University, where most of Iran’s bureaucrats are trained. “We hate America,” her father said, smiling.“He is a war veteran, a good manager and a religious person,” said Noushin Sobhani, 31, a gynecologist. She and her parents voted at the Imam Sadegh University, where most of Iran’s bureaucrats are trained. “We hate America,” her father said, smiling.
In the poorer south Tehran neighborhood of Javadieh, there were no lines in front of a voting station in a Shiite religious center. “People here are angry over high prices,” said a supermarket owner, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear for his security.In the poorer south Tehran neighborhood of Javadieh, there were no lines in front of a voting station in a Shiite religious center. “People here are angry over high prices,” said a supermarket owner, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear for his security.
There were long lines in front of the bakery across the street and at a nearby A.T.M. On Thursday more than 60 million Iranians received their monthly direct cash subsidies. An older man and his grandson came to vote, but they had picked opposing candidates.There were long lines in front of the bakery across the street and at a nearby A.T.M. On Thursday more than 60 million Iranians received their monthly direct cash subsidies. An older man and his grandson came to vote, but they had picked opposing candidates.
“I vote for Jalili,” the older man said. “And I for Rowhani,” said the grandson, Reza, 29. The younger man said Iran needed change, while his grandfather preferred the nation’s confrontational foreign policy.“I vote for Jalili,” the older man said. “And I for Rowhani,” said the grandson, Reza, 29. The younger man said Iran needed change, while his grandfather preferred the nation’s confrontational foreign policy.
“Like the rest of the country, we have different opinions,” Reza said.“Like the rest of the country, we have different opinions,” Reza said.
Polling stations are expected to close about 7 p.m., but there can be extensions. Results will come in “as soon as possible,” Interior Minister Mohammad Najjar said.Polling stations are expected to close about 7 p.m., but there can be extensions. Results will come in “as soon as possible,” Interior Minister Mohammad Najjar said.