Iran is choosing its new President! There is a favorite in the race with 4 candidates.

After the death of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19, the Presidential Elections in Iran were brought forward. Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian, conservative candidates Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, former Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, and former Minister of Interior Mostafa Pourmohammadi are competing in the elections. The candidates need to receive more than 50%+1 of the votes in the first round to be elected.

Voting for the 14th Presidential Elections in Iran started at 08:00 local time and will end at 18:00. Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast his vote in a ballot box set up in the hall of Imam Khomeini's Husseiniyah in Tehran, where he accepted condolences for the helicopter crash victims.

"VOTE" CALL FROM KHAMENEI

After casting his vote, Khamenei made a statement to the press, starting by mentioning President Ibrahim Raisi and other officials who lost their lives in the helicopter crash on May 19.

Khamenei stated that election days are "days of happiness and joy" for Iranians and called undecided voters to the ballot box, saying, "The continuity, stability, dignity, and international reputation of the Islamic Republic depend on the existence of the people. Therefore, we recommend our valuable people to take voting seriously and participate in this important political test." Khamenei used the expression, "Hopefully, the best and most beneficial choice will be made for this country, and the coming years will be good and auspicious years with the permission of God, and people will be satisfied with their choices."

ELECTION EXCITEMENT IN IRAN WITH A POPULATION OF 88 MILLION

According to the data of the Ministry of Interior Election Center, approximately 62 million voters out of a population of 88 million in the country will be able to vote in ballot boxes set up in more than 59 thousand centers. In addition, Iranian citizens living abroad will be able to go to the ballot box in election centers established in 95 countries.

2 CANDIDATES WITHDRAW FROM THE RACE IN A COMPETITION WITH 6 CANDIDATES

Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian, conservative candidates Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, former Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, and former Minister of Interior Mostafa Pourmohammadi are competing in the elections.

Conservative candidates Ali Reza Zakani, the Mayor of Tehran, and Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi withdrew from the race "to ensure unity in the conservative camp" just hours before the election.

REFORMIST CANDIDATE LEADING IN POLLS

According to a public opinion poll conducted by the Iranian Students Polling Agency (ISPA) on June 26 with 3,589 people nationwide, Pezeshkian is in the lead with 33.1%, followed by Jalili with 28.8%, and conservative candidate Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in third place with 19.1%.

According to the polls, Pezeshkian receives a higher percentage of votes in regions with a high population of Turkish, Kurdish, and Baloch citizens compared to other candidates.

THE CANDIDATE WHO RECEIVES 50%+1 VOTE WILL TAKE OVER THE ADMINISTRATION FOR 4 YEARS

The candidates need to receive more than 50%+1 of the votes in the first round to be elected. If no candidate exceeds 50%+1 in the first round, the top two candidates with the most votes will go to the second round, which will be held on July 5, and the winner will become the 9th President of the country. The initial results of the election are expected to be announced at midnight, and the final results will be announced tomorrow. The President in Iran serves for a period of 4 years and can be elected for a maximum of 2 consecutive terms.