The United States said on Saturday that it regretted that the Iranians were unable to participate in a
"free and fair electoral process
" after the presidential election which saw the victory of the ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raïssi.
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In a first American reaction after Friday's poll, a State Department spokesman said "
Iranians have been deprived of their right to choose their own leaders through a free and fair electoral process
," but added that the United States would continue to participate in the Iranian nuclear negotiations.
Ebrahim Raïssi was elected in the first round with 61.95% of the vote and a participation of 48.8%, the lowest rate for a presidential election.