According to the federal Canadian government, no
polling stations will be set up for Iranian citizens in Canada to
participate in Iran’s upcoming presidential election, Tehran Times reported.
The decision
came a month after Iran’s permanent representative to the United
Nations in New York sent a diplomatic note to Canadian officials
requesting that polling stations be established for the May 19 election,
according to the Iranian interests section at the Pakistani embassy in
Washington.
The request was denied by the Canadian government, as it generally
requires foreign countries to set up their polling stations at their
diplomatic missions in Canada, and Iran does not have a diplomatic
presence in the North American country.
On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry officials met with a visiting
Canadian delegation in Tehran to discuss the issue. But the talks held
so far have not borne fruit.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has also said the current
Canadian government is not able to provide the necessary means to hold
the election as Tehran does not have diplomatic missions in the country.
"The previous government of Canada cut diplomatic ties with Iran, and
as a result, we do not have diplomatic presence in Canada,” Zarif said.
He urged the Iranians who live in Canada cast their ballots in a nearby American city.
"In a phone conversation I had with Canada’s foreign minister, he
said they were willing to set up the polling stations but were unable to
make the necessary arrangements to do so,” Zarif said.
Iranians will cast their ballots on May 19 to elect their next
president among the six candidates who were qualified to run by the
Guardian Council.
The six candidates include incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, First
Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf,
member of Iran’s Expediency Council Mostafa Aqa-Mirsalim, Seyyed Ebrahim
Raeisi, the current custodian of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH) in
the northeastern city of Mashhad, and former vice president Mostafa
Hashemi-Taba.
Iranians can cast their ballots in the forthcoming election in as many as 103 foreign countries, the Foreign Ministry has said.
