Baghdad Post, May 19, 2017 – Iran’s Basij forces have been heavily deployed to Tehran’s streets as the country’s see on Friday the 12th presidential elections and the first since the 2015 nuclear deal was signed, The Baghdad post reported.
Iranian authorities announced the move came to “thwart any expected violence that could handicap the polls”.

Basij forces, an elite militia of the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps militias (IRGC), has played a major role in suppressing Iranian protesters.
In statements to Basij Press, Commander of Quds Force, a brigade affiliated with the IRGC, Hassan Zadeh said, “The Basij forces had established security barriers and intelligence patrols all over the country to thwart any protests”.
Media reports said earlier in May an armed uprising by angry Iranian army officers was being prepared on the day of elections.

The Shiite country always sees protests coinciding its presidential elections.

Iran’s incumbent Reformist Hassan Rouhani seeks to secure a second term today in a tough battle against hardliner Ebrahim Raisi.

Human rights groups worldwide warned the elections lack transparency.