Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has reacted to Canada\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s move to prevent the opening of polling stations for Iranian expatriates in the country, urging Ottawa to exercise \u00c5\u201cwisdom\u201d and resort to dialogue.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cI am not aware what has happened to make Canada take such a decision, and I advise Canadian officials to [exercise] rationality and wisdom,\u201d Salehi told reporters on Friday.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cWe want to have the best [bilateral] relations with Canada … and if there is a misunderstanding, it could be settled through dialogue,\u201d Salehi noted, urging Canada to give up unjustified hostility against the Iranian nation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Over 60,000 polling stations have been set up across Iran as the country holds its 11th presidential vote as well as its 4th city and rural elections. Iranian nationals living abroad can also cast their ballots at 285 polling stations set up overseas.<\/p>\n
President of the Expediency Council\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s Center for Strategic Research Hassan Rohani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, Secretary of the Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi are the six candidates running in the presidential election.\n<\/p>\n
Over 200,000 candidates are also running for city and rural councils elections.\n<\/p>\n
Nearly 50.5 million Iranians, including more than 1.6 million first-time voters, are eligible to vote in the June 14 elections.\n<\/p>\n
MRS\/SS<\/p>\n