IRAN: With the upcoming presidential runoff in Iran, government officials and media are intensifying efforts to rejuvenate voter engagement amid widespread disillusionment.

In the initial round on June 28th, over 60% of voters abstained, posing a legitimacy crisis for the Islamic Republic. Many Iranians perceive both 'revolutionary' and 'reformist' factions as indistinguishable, contributing to the significant boycott.

Handpicked candidates have resorted to provocative rhetoric and what observers call "theatrical infighting" to revive interest. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, addressing the low turnout, downplayed it as a result of personal preoccupations rather than opposition to the regime, yet failed to conceal growing insecurities.

Khamenei’s directive to factions, heavily dependent on his approval, is clear: mobilize disillusioned voters to restore government credibility.

Adding to the electoral dynamics, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi entered the fray, contrasting Saeed Jalili’s obstructionist stance on the JCPOA revival during President Ebrahim Raisi’s tenure. Salehi hinted that voting for Masoud Pezeshkian could potentially reignite the nuclear deal, despite Khamenei’s ultimate authority.

Salehi disclosed last-minute demands by the Supreme National Security Council that derailed the JCPOA talks, portraying Jalili as obstructive and competitive rather than cooperative in diplomatic efforts.

Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, supporting Pezeshkian, criticized Jalili on social media, accusing him of dishonesty and implying foreign influence.

As the runoff approaches, government attempts to manage the election highlight its vulnerability. Iranian voters face a critical choice: participate in what some perceive as a manipulated process or continue expressing discontent through abstention.

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