Iran’s state-controlled media has been dominated over that past several weeks by the presidential candidates making their case for the country’s presidency. However the media has ignored what the people of Iran really believe about the elections, which seems to be that they reject the ruling regime and its presidential nominees.

In a live televised debate on Friday, the candidates themselves gave reasons why there’s no real choice in Iran’s presidential elections. As they highlighted their opponents’ failures, the nominees, in effect, admitted that they’re all deeply involved in the regime’s suppression of the Iranian people and its plundering of the country’s wealth.

Riyadh will want assurances that the U.S. will continue its harsher tone toward Iran and continue its pressure to stop Tehran’s destabilizing activities in the region.

The U.S.-Saudi alliance has been shaky after U.S. withdrawal from the region, which was perceived as the U.S. leaning toward Iran, as well as a lack of direct action against Iranian ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

An article in REUTERS says that, “Saudi Arabia will also want to showcase high-profile investment deals with American companies to show progress on its ambitious “Vision 2030” economic and social reform agenda, while Washington says U.S. arms sales arms worth tens of billions of dollars are in the pipeline.”

With the election in Iran only days away, officials are alarmed over the call for regime change, and the election boycott campaign that has gained strength with freedom-loving youths and supporters of the Iranian Resistance. 

Mohammad Mohaddessin, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) conducted an interview with Media Express during the closing days of the Iran’s election cycle. He agreed to answer key questions regarding the election process and its impact on the Iranian people. 

Below is part of the interview, taken from an article  published by Media Express, which can serve as tutorial on how the Iran elections work, and why they are best called a “sham” election.

An unexpected turn of events came about when Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf made an early exit on Tuesday from Iran’s presidential election. 

In an article by Heshmat Alavi, for Al Arabiya, he writes, “This can be the result of a conclusion reached by the hardliner camp from the 2013 presidential election where their chances were hurt with none of their candidates willing to step aside in favor of their all-out interests.”

Iran’s upcoming election on May 19th has a cloud hanging over it this year. It looms as the shadow of the uprisings that followed the controversial election in 2009. 

There is an undercurrent in Iranian society that has expressed their displeasure with the ruling regime. A warning to the candidates began the second debate, when The Friday Prayers’ Leader in Tehran said: “The debates should be on presidential issues…. But we must avoid acts that rattle society.”

The choice in Iran’s presidential election Friday is between incumbent Hassan Rouhani, and known participant in the 1988 Massacre, Ebrahim Raisi. 

Rouhani is still the apparent frontrunner, however, his challenge from Raisi may be more difficult than expected.  Raisi rallied religious traditionalists around him, as well as working-class voters who are disillusioned with the economy.

As the Iranian elections approach, there has been a huge campaign that is encouraging the people to not participate in voting. Across the country there are numerous social media posts, videos and posters that highlight the people’s desire for the regime to be overthrown. 

The campaign is present across the whole country, not just in the capital and the main cities.