Khamenei urges Iranians to ignore vote-boycotting calls

Supreme leader calls people in the country to participate in June 18 vote that is to be contested by seven candidates.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has urged Iranians to ignore calls to boycott next month’s presidential election after a decision to exclude several prominent figures from running. “Do not pay attention to those who promote that voting is useless,” Khamenei said during a speech to legislators via videoconference on Thursday, calling on Iranians to “participate” in the June 18 vote. “Elections are held in one day, but the effect lasts for several years,” he added, according to his official Instagram account.