Iranians are heading to the polls today in the runoff presidential election, a week after all candidates failed to secure the majority of votes in the snap election.
Polling started at 8 a.m. local time (0430 GMT) and are scheduled to close at 6:00 p.m. (1430 GMT). The process may be extended with the possibility of extensions by Interior Ministry.
Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei cast his vote at a polling station located in Tehran just as the voting started.
Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili emerged as frontrunners in first round of voting held on June 28, yet neither succeeded in obtaining an outright majority, necessitating the current runoff.
Pezeshkian served as a health minister and is a legislator from Tabriz in the northwest. Jalili had a background of a diplomat and the chief nuclear negotiator. Over 24 million Iranians participated in the June 28 election.
The elections are being held to appoint a successor to President Raeisi, who died on May 19 in a tragic helicopter crash.
Spokesperson for the national election headquarters Mohsen Eslami said the number of polling stations remains consistent with the initial round, which stood at 58,640, although adjustments may be made in certain districts if needed.
Eslami added that preliminary results could be declared as soon as Saturday morning.
A total of 61 million Iranian are eligible to vote, as confirmed by the election headquarters.
