Iranians voted in a presidential election on Friday, highlighted by a single reformist candidate’s attempt to stand out amidst a fragmented conservative camp.
Iranians voted in a presidential election on Friday marked by a lone reformist’s bid to break through against a divided conservative field.
Voting was extended three times and eventually ended at midnight (2030 GMT), with around 61 million Iranians eligible to cast ballots after the death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month.
The ballot in 58,000 polling stations comes against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions over the Gaza war and discontent over the state of Iran’s sanctions-hit economy.
Iran extends voting three times
Voting in Iran’s presidential election on Friday was extended a third time as Iranians cast their ballots in a contest marked by a lone reformist’s bid to break through against a divided conservative field.
Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to vote in the election called after the death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month.
The ballot comes against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions over the Gaza war and discontent over the state of Iran’s sanctions-hit economy.
The contenders approved by the Guardian Council, which vets all candidates, include conservative parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.
Also running are the sole reformist, Masoud Pezeshkian, and a fourth candidate, cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi.
Two ultraconservatives — Tehran mayor Alireza Zakani and Raisi’s former vice president Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi — dropped out on the eve of the election.
Voting was underway nationwide at more than 58,000 polling stations, mostly in schools and mosques.
Iran’s interior ministry first extended the voting period to 20:00 (1630 GMT), then to 22:00 before prolonging it until midnight.
Calling it “a day of joy and happiness,” supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei voted shortly after the polls opened.
“We encourage our dear people to take the issue of voting seriously and participate,” said Khamenei, who holds ultimate political power in the Islamic republic.
At the last poll in 2021, turnout was just under 49 percent. Voters opted to stay away after the Guardian Council disqualified many reformists and moderates.
Saudi Arabia hosts voting for Iranian pilgrims in Riyadh
Mehr News Agency reported that Alireza Mahmoudi informed reporters on Friday morning: “The elections are ongoing, and no polling station has completed vote collection yet.”
Voting statistics from citizens abroad will be sent to the Elections Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs once the specified time has ended.
Mahmoudi reiterated that voting in Riyadh will proceed as announced, with further information to follow.
Iranian diplomatic missions, including embassies and consulates worldwide, have started their tasks to facilitate the voting process and accommodate Iranian voters.
Iranian presidential candidate pledges inclusive representation for Kurds
Iranian presidential candidate Mostafa PourMohammadi has stated that the Kurds are not a minority group.
“The Kurds are not a minority and they are of Iranian origin,” Mohammadi remarked in response to a question from Channel 8 regarding the Kurdish population in Eastern Kurdistan.
“I will appoint any qualified Kurdish brothers and sisters to appropriate positions,” PourMohammadi pledged.
Reformist hopes for breakthrough as Iran votes
Iranians voted on Friday in a presidential election where a lone reformist aimed for a breakthrough against a divided conservative camp.
Around 61 million Iranians were eligible to vote in the election called after the death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month.
The Guardian Council, which vets candidates, allowed the reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, 69, to run against a conservative field dominated by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.
No major reformist or moderate candidates were approved for Iran’s last presidential election three years ago.
Also left in contention is cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi after two ultraconservatives, Tehran mayor Alireza Zakani and Raisi’s former vice president Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi, dropped out.
The ballot in sanctions-hit Iran comes at a time of high tensions between the Islamic republic and its arch-foes Israel and the United States, as the Gaza war rages on.
“We start the elections” for the country’s 14th presidential ballot, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said in a televised address.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate political power in Iran, cast his ballot shortly after the polls opened.
“Election day is a day of joy and happiness for us Iranians,” he said in a televised speech where he also called for a high turnout.
“We encourage our dear people to take the issue of voting seriously and participate,” he said.
Iran opens polls for snap presidential election
Voting stations in Iran opened at 08:00 am (0430 GMT) Friday for a snap presidential election, according to the ministry of interior.
“We start the elections” for the country’s 14th presidential elections, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi announced in a televised address.
