Apathy greets Iran presidential vote dominated by hard-liner
Voters register to cast their vote during the presidential election at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Voters register to cast their vote during the presidential election at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Jun. 18, 2021 08:41 AM EDT
Election officials count ballots for the presidential elections at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, early Saturday, June 19, 2021. Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election dominated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's hard-line protege after the disqualification of his strongest competition, fueling apathy that left some polling places largely deserted despite pleas to support the Islamic Republic at the ballot box. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Election officials count ballots for the presidential elections at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, early Saturday, June 19, 2021. Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election dominated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's hard-line protege after the disqualification of his strongest competition, fueling apathy that left some polling places largely deserted despite pleas to support the Islamic Republic at the ballot box. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Jun. 18, 2021 05:45 PM EDT
This combination of four photos shows candidates for the June 18, 2021, Iranian presidential elections from left to right; Abdolnasser Hemmati, Mohsen Rezaei, Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi and Ebrahim Raisi. Iranians will vote Friday on who should be the country's next president amid tensions with the West over its tattered nuclear deal with world powers. (AP Photo)

This combination of four photos shows candidates for the June 18, 2021, Iranian presidential elections from left to right; Abdolnasser Hemmati, Mohsen Rezaei, Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi and Ebrahim Raisi. Iranians will vote Friday on who should be the country's next president amid tensions with the West over its tattered nuclear deal with world powers. (AP Photo)

Jun. 17, 2021 02:47 AM EDT
Women register to vote in the presidential election at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Women register to vote in the presidential election at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Jun. 18, 2021 06:46 AM EDT
In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani casts his ballot for the presidential elections at the Interior Ministry in Tehran, Iran, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani casts his ballot for the presidential elections at the Interior Ministry in Tehran, Iran, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

Jun. 18, 2021 03:52 AM EDT
A supporter of the candidate for the presidential election Abdolnasser Hemmati, former Central Bank chief, chants slogans in support him after he voted, outside at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A supporter of the candidate for the presidential election Abdolnasser Hemmati, former Central Bank chief, chants slogans in support him after he voted, outside at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Jun. 18, 2021 03:31 AM EDT
Iranian election officials prepare ballot boxes at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Iranian election officials prepare ballot boxes at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Jun. 17, 2021 10:42 PM EDT
Candidate for the presidential election Abdolnasser Hemmati, former Central Bank chief, flashes the victory sign after voting at a polling station Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Candidate for the presidential election Abdolnasser Hemmati, former Central Bank chief, flashes the victory sign after voting at a polling station Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Jun. 18, 2021 03:19 AM EDT
Ebrahim Raisi, a candidate in Iran's presidential elections waves to the media after casting his vote at a polling station in Tehran, Iran Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Ebrahim Raisi, a candidate in Iran's presidential elections waves to the media after casting his vote at a polling station in Tehran, Iran Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Jun. 18, 2021 08:45 AM EDT
A voter casts his ballot for the presidential election at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election that a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei seemed likely to win, leading to low turnout fueled by apathy and calls for a boycott. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A voter casts his ballot for the presidential election at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election that a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei seemed likely to win, leading to low turnout fueled by apathy and calls for a boycott. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Jun. 18, 2021 06:44 AM EDT
In this picture released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrives to vote at a polling station at Imam Khomeini mosque in his residence compoand, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. A portrait of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini hangs at left. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

In this picture released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrives to vote at a polling station at Imam Khomeini mosque in his residence compoand, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. A portrait of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini hangs at left. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Jun. 18, 2021 12:38 AM EDT
A voter fills out her ballot papers at a polling station during the presidential elections in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election dominated by a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after authorities disqualified nearly all of his strongest competition, leading to what appeared to be a low turnout fueled by apathy and calls for a boycott. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A voter fills out her ballot papers at a polling station during the presidential elections in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election dominated by a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after authorities disqualified nearly all of his strongest competition, leading to what appeared to be a low turnout fueled by apathy and calls for a boycott. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Jun. 18, 2021 12:48 PM EDT
Election officials count ballots for the presidential elections at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, early Saturday, June 19, 2021. Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election dominated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's hard-line protege after the disqualification of his strongest competition, fueling apathy that left some polling places largely deserted despite pleas to support the Islamic Republic at the ballot box. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Election officials count ballots for the presidential elections at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, early Saturday, June 19, 2021. Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election dominated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's hard-line protege after the disqualification of his strongest competition, fueling apathy that left some polling places largely deserted despite pleas to support the Islamic Republic at the ballot box. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Jun. 18, 2021 05:45 PM EDT
Voters fill out their ballot papers during the presidential elections at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Voters fill out their ballot papers during the presidential elections at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Jun. 18, 2021 01:10 AM EDT
Voters cast their ballots for the presidential elections at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election dominated by a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after authorities disqualified nearly all of his strongest competition, leading to what appeared to be a low turnout fueled by apathy and calls for a boycott. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Voters cast their ballots for the presidential elections at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election dominated by a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after authorities disqualified nearly all of his strongest competition, leading to what appeared to be a low turnout fueled by apathy and calls for a boycott. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Jun. 18, 2021 12:43 PM EDT
Voters queue at a polling station during the presidential elections in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election dominated by a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after authorities disqualified nearly all of his strongest competition, leading to what appeared to be a low turnout fueled by apathy and calls for a boycott. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Voters queue at a polling station during the presidential elections in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election dominated by a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after authorities disqualified nearly all of his strongest competition, leading to what appeared to be a low turnout fueled by apathy and calls for a boycott. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Jun. 18, 2021 12:57 PM EDT
An Iranian woman casts his vote during the presidential election at a polling station inside the Iranian consulate in Karbala, Iraq, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

An Iranian woman casts his vote during the presidential election at a polling station inside the Iranian consulate in Karbala, Iraq, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Jun. 18, 2021 03:34 AM EDT
Iranian election official prepare ballot boxes at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Iranian election official prepare ballot boxes at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 18, 2021. Iran began voting Friday in a presidential election tipped in the favor of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueling public apathy and sparking calls for a boycott in the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Jun. 17, 2021 11:31 PM EDT