On Friday, Iran held parliamentary elections for the first time since nationwide protests in 2022-23. No one is holding their breath for the outcome.
Ideological diversity was non-existent: every candidate was vetted by the Islamic Republic’s Guardian Council, an assembly of 12 clerics controlled by the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamanei.
Elections are important for sustaining the regime’s legitimacy, particularly in the eyes of the Western media — CNN looked forward last week to “major elections” in Iran — but they have little actual political influence.
