Iranians’ presence in March 2 elections foils most of enemy plots

Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Brigadier General Mohammad Hejazi said Thursday that participation of the Iranian nation in the March 2 parliamentary elections has foiled most of enemy plots. The official made the remarks on the sidelines of the closing session of a local ceremony in the Iranian capital. People’s presence in the polling stations during the last Friday elections was indeed a “show of power before the eyes of the world’s arrogant powers,” Hejazi said. He added that the massive turnout has also guaranteed national security. Iran has witnessed a huge turnout in the first round of the 9th parliamentary elections to fill 290 seats in the Iranian Majlis (Parliament). According to official reports a total of 225 candidates have secured the required majority of votes to win parliamentary seats in the first round while 130 candidates are to compete in the runoff elections for the remaining 65 parliamentary seats in 33 constituencies. Over 48 million Iranian citizens were eligible to vote in the elections with 3.9 million first-time voters. Voter turnout in Tehran was reported at 48 percent.