Young Iranians closely watching post election scenario

Tehran, June 17 (ANI): As Iran continues to experience violent protests against the alleged "rigged poll" result in the recent presidential election, young Iranian voters are observing the country's political situation very closely.

"My fellow (Iranian) classmates in Turkey were crying when they found out the news. We wanted Mousavi to win badly," Fox News quoted Amir Amram, doctoral student of social psychology, as saying.

Youth of Iran, who helped push voter turnout to record levels, is badly shaken by President Mamoud Ahmadinejad's controversial victory over reformist challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi.

"Mousavi is not necessarily the best candidate. But he is the least-worst of all four candidates," Amram said, adding that one of his reasons for backing Mousavi was his fear that the world's oil reserves are running out.

The nuclear issue, lack of civil freedoms and the poor management of the government are some of the issues that the Iranian students are concerned about.

"If there was a 1 percent, just a 1 percent chance that I could keep Ahmadinejad's vote from coming up, that's the chance I took," said Samere, 27.

Samere, who moved to Shomal from Tehran for work a few months ago, compared the Iranian government to the Taliban. She said people are fed up and willing to die for their country.

Masoud, 27, blamed Ahmadinejad for lack of employment opportunities and said that while Ahmadinejad is in office Iran's "freedom, economic situation and our relation with other countries are getting worse."

Samere and Masoud both expressed frustration with Ahmadinejad's "superstitious" mentality and how he used warnings of foreign threats as a tool to boost himself to the presidency.

Meanwhile, in an unprecedented move, Iran's 12-member Guardian Council announced it will review ballots in a partial recount after what is believed to be the largest voter turnout in Iranian history.

However, many Iranians are not optimistic about the outcome.

"In these times, you can't trust anyone," Samere said. (ANI)