US: Low turnout in Iran’s election another sign of “discontent”

The United States said on Monday low turnout in Iran’s elections was not surprising and was a new sign of discontent in the clerically-run country.

“I think there’s no question that there’s dissatisfaction with the regime,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

“We have not assessed that these elections will be free and fair, and I believe many Iranian voters will assess that these elections will not be free and fair, so I would not be surprised if in that regard they choose not to participate,” he said.

Conservatives and ultra-conservatives won a clear majority in parliamentary elections, with many hopefuls, including moderates and reformists, disqualified, electoral authorities said on Monday.

Authorities said turnout was 41%, the lowest since the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted a pro-Western king.

Miller said the United States could not provide its own assessment, but added: “The Iranian authorities’ claims about turnout are generally unreliable.”