Iran's top leader urges high turnout in upcoming parl't vote

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Saturday on the Iranian people to massively vote in the country's upcoming parliamentary elections, slated for Feb. 26.

People from all walks of life are better to take part in the upcoming Majlis (parliament) and Assembly of Experts' elections to safeguard the country's integrity, Khamenei was quoted by official IRNA news agency as saying.

People's vigilance and presence will guarantee the Islamic revolution and will bring tranquility and victory for the Iranian nation, he said, adding that at the same time it will thwart the plots of the enemies.

Presently, the Islamic revolution is facing challenges created by the United States, Israel and their terrorist "puppets" in the region to destroy its principles, Khamenei said.

The 290-seat Majlis is elected by direct votes of people for four-year terms.

Simultaneously, the election of the Assembly of Experts, which is a deliberative body of 88 Mujtahids or Islamic scholars, will be held.

The Assembly of Experts is charged with electing and removing the supreme leader of Iran and supervising his activities. Members of the assembly are also elected by direct public vote for an eight-year term.

The imminent elections will be the scene of contests between the two major politicians camps of reformist-moderates and the conservatives or principalists in Iran.

In June 2013, moderate Hassan Rouhani won Iran's presidential election against hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which resulted in the landmark agreement between Iran and the world powers in 2015 to put an end to the country's decade-long nuclear disputes. Endit