Senators call for ‘fair and free’ elections in Iran

Hoeven and Blumenthal have introduced S.Res. 154, which expresses the support of the U.S. Senate to hold fair and free election in Iran and condemns the political abuses of the Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

{mosads}Iran is scheduled to hold an election on June 14. The Senate is likely to adopt the resolution by the end of next week.

Hoeven said his resolution was necessary because the Supreme Leader handpicks the candidates on the ballot, prohibiting the Iranian people from being able to hold their leaders accountable through elections.

“The Supreme Leader of Iran believes in the power of elections as well, but he doesn’t respect them,” Hoeven said. “He makes sure that a truly fair election is not available … selecting which candidates are permitted for running for office.

“Apparently the Supreme Leader believes there is too much at risk to allow anyone but a hand picked candidate to prevail.”

Blumenthal said that the consequences of Iranian elections are important to the U.S. and the world because the Iranian regime is not looking out for its people’s best interest by trying to obtain a nuclear weapon.

“This resolution in fact is all about democracy in a land that has been deprived of it for much too long,” Blumenthal said. “Americans know that elections have consequences. … This election has consequences across the world.”

Blumenthal added that Senate passage of his resolution would send and “unequivocal” reminder to the world that America stands with the people of Iran, not its unelected regime.