TEHRAN (Ruptly) — Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei cast his vote in the country’s seventh parliamentary election on Friday in Tehran, in what he described as a “religious duty”.

Indeed, a very low turnout in the elections is expected, as the majority of Iranians seem to be disappointed with all of their rulers, as well as their entire political system.

Around 58 mln people are eligible to take part in the elections in Iran, choosing between 7,000 candidates from 250 registered parties, at any of the 55,000 polling stations that have been set up across the country.

The Supreme Leader congratulated the people in what he defined as a “national celebration day”, and said, “It is the restoration of the civil rights of the nation, that they want to come for voting and participate in managing the country’s affairs which is their right.”

“This is a religious duty”, he added. “Elections guarantee the country’s national interests and whoever is interested in the country’s national interests must take part in the election.”