Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei kicked off the country’s presidential elections on Friday, as Iranians decide whether to continue the country’s hard-line conservative course or take a more moderate stance.
Casting his vote in the capital Tehran, Khamenei urged the nation to participate in the vote to “prove the correctness and honesty of the Islamic Republic’s system.”
Some 61 million voters in Iran are eligible to elect a successor to the hardliner Ebrahim Raisiwho died in a helicopter crash in May.
Polling stations were scheduled to close at 6pm local time (2:30pm GMT), but electoral authorities extended the evening’s voting until midnight.
The elections take place in the midst of a serious economic crisis, tensions with the West and frustrations among the public with the application of state and government power, especially among the younger population.
The candidates considered to have the best chance of winning the election are hardliner Saeed Jalili, a former negotiator in nuclear talks with Western powers; parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf; and former Health Minister and reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian.
During the campaign, Pezeshkian criticized the government’s strict policy on women wearing headscarves, but also expressed his loyalty to Khamenei and praised the attack launched on Israel with drones and missiles in April. The main voices in the reformist camp have promised him their support and he could have a good chance of winning if he reaches the second round.
After voting on Friday, Pezeshkian said: “We will do our best to maintain friendly relations with all countries – except Israel.”
Cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi also remains in the race.
Despite the title of president, Raisi was only number two in Iran’s power structure, as Khamenei functions as head of state and has the final say on all strategic issues. He is also commander-in-chief of Iran’s armed forces.
The Guardianship Council, an extremely conservative supervisory body, authorized only six candidates for election.
Earlier in the week, two hard-line conservative candidates withdrew their nominations in an effort to unite support among hard-line voters heading to the polls.
Many Iranians, especially young people, have, however, lost faith in major political change at the national level.
The death of young Kurdish Mahsa Amini in autumn 2022 triggered nationwide protests against the Islamic system of government, but the protests were long ago suppressed with harsh punishments for protesters.
If none of the candidates obtains an absolute majority, the second round will take place on July 5th. The first results of the first round are expected on Saturday.
