A giant mural in downtown Tehran reflects the mood in Iran, with alarm over voter apathy leading up to the presidential election run-off. Disillusionment is high among Iranians due to deadly protests, high inflation rates, and skepticism over the impact of voting. Candidates Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili have been attacking each other rather than presenting actionable plans. Pezeshkian aims to engage with the West to lift sanctions, while Jalili emphasizes resilience against sanctions. The discord between the candidates escalated in televised debates, with Pezeshkian questioning Jalili’s economic promises. The election results are seen as a wake-up call for the Iranian political establishment, with doubts lingering over the potential mandate of the winning candidate. Despite the lack of significant differences between the candidates, some voters like Yasaman are still choosing to participate in the hope of bringing about change. The run-off election on July 5 will determine whether Iran will see a meaningful shift in governance.
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