Iran: Khamenei accuses foreign media of using coronavirus to discourage voters

Supreme Leer of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused foreign media of trying to use coronavirus outbreak in Shiite country to discour people from voting in upcoming presidential elections, international media reported. This ''negative propaganda'' began a few months ago and grew larger approaching election and in past two days, under pretext of an illness and a virus, ir media did t miss slightest opportunity to discour people from voting, Khamenei said on his official website on February 23. 

Elections held on February 21 

Iran held its parliamentary elections on February 21 which also witnessed participation of political leers including Khamenei. He also tweeted photographs of himself to encour people's participation in elections. 

Islamic nation started counting votes in its parliamentary election on February 22 and according to reports,  hardliner allies of Supreme Leer Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s Revolutionary Guards are expected to gain a sizeable majority. According to media reports, an official from ministry confirmed that conservatives affiliated with Guards secured 83 out of 290 seats across 31 provinces following Friday’s parliamentary elections. substantial victory of hardliners indicates collapse of pragmatist political entities as loyalists to Khamenei proved to be front runners.

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Iranian officials have yet to anunce total turut, however, y revealed names of leing candidates in Tehran’s 30 parliamentary seats, international media reported results have corroborated widening influence of Guards across country amid mounting pressures from west over Nuclear deal and tre embargo from US.

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Meanwhile, authorities in Iran on February 22 reported a sixth death from coronavirus that emerged in China.  goverr of Markazi province told an international news ncy that tests of a patient who recently died in central city of Arak was positive for virus.