As Iran’s nationwide elections for the Parliament and the Assembly of Experts kicked off in the Islamic Republic on Friday morning, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei cast his ballot in the early hours of the voting.

The Leader cast his ballot at the Imam Khomeini Husseiniya of Tehran as soon as the voting began at 8 am local time, with enthusiastic journalists and photographers present at the site of the voting.

'Our dear nation should know that today, the eyes of many people in the world, both individuals and politicians and those who hold prestigious national and political positions, are on Iran,' the Leader told reporters in comments after voting.

His eminence called for a high turnout to disappoint enemies and ill-wishers.

“Make the friends happy and disappoint the ill-wishers,” the Leader told people in the live televised speech.

🔴 Minutes ago: The Leader of the Revolution entering the Imam Khomeini (ra) Hussainiyah to participate in the Parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections, March 1, 2024.

pic.twitter.com/97cfXXobo1

— Khamenei Media (@Khamenei_m) March 1, 2024

Those watching included the US, “most of the Europeans, evil Zionists, capitalists and big companies”, Imam Khamenei said, adding that the US and the Zionist entity, “which carefully follow Iran’s issues, are afraid of the people’s participation in the elections”.

Asked about an advice about the undecided voters, the Leader said people should not hesitate about doing good things.

Long Queues, Tight Security The countrywide elections for the Parliament and the Assembly of Experts officially began in Iran at 8 am local time on Friday.

A deputy interior minister said many polling stations across Iran have been packed with an early-morning crowd of voters after the vote kicked off.

Iranian Interior Ministry's Deputy for Security Affairs Majid Mirahmadi said that long queues of voters have been formed at many polling stations across the country, describing it as a major epic.

LIVE: Voting underway in Iran Parliamentary, Assembly of Experts elections#IranElections2024
https://t.co/0i5t5U7sqy

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) March 1, 2024

He noted that full security prevails at all polling stations thanks to the efforts by the security and intelligence organizations.

Mirahmadi added that over 250,000 forces have been tasked with ensuring the security of elections and guarding the polling places to ensure that nothing disrupts the election process.

Iranian security forces deployed in Tehran for elections day (March 1, 2024). About the Elections Having gone through a formal qualification process by Iran’s Constitutional Council, over 12,000 candidates, including dozens of Iranians from the religious minorities, are running for the parliament.

There are 290 seats in the parliament up for grabs.

Around 61 million Iranian people are eligible to vote, including 3.5 million first-time voters.

The elections are held in around 60,000 polling stations across Iran.

Iranian voters and executive elements at a polling station in Tehran (March 1, 2024). According to the spokesperson for the Constitutional Council, about 75 percent of the applicants for the parliamentary seats have passed the screening process and have been allowed to run in the elections.

Around 800,000 executive elements working under the supervision of the Interior Ministry are involved in the elections and a total of 62,000 representatives of the candidates are also observing the process of voting at the polling stations.