Speaking to Tasnim on Monday, Kamran Pooladi said the decision on the timing of the elections followed consultations over how to organize the vote under the current circumstances.

He said the Interior Ministry had initially proposed holding the elections 45 days after the announcement of a halt to the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

The proposal was discussed in meetings attended by deputy Parliament speakers and the Parliament’s presiding board before being approved and sent to the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), the MP explained.

He noted that the SNSC subsequently extended the proposed period to two months, a decision that was approved and formally communicated following the Leader of the Islamic Revolution’s endorsement. Under the decision, the elections are to be held two months after the announcement of the halt to the war, he said.

Pooladi added that, given the election law’s requirement for council elections to be held every two years, as well as the emphasis placed by martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on adhering to the general policies governing elections, a decision had been made to hold the vote in the fall.

Asked about the exact date, he said that since the law could not be amended again, consultations had been held with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf to have the issue discussed once more by the SNSC.

He said the aim was to set a specific date toward the end of the Iranian month of Mehr, which runs from late September to late October.

Poladi added that a meeting would be held this week or next week to finalize the timing of the elections.