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TEHRAN: Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election runoff between a reformist advocating improved ties with the West and an ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator.
The election, referred to as early after the dying of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, follows a primary spherical marked by a traditionally low turnout final week.
The runoff between reformist Masoud Pezeshkian and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili comes amid heightened regional tensions over the Gaza struggle, Iran’s nuclear standoff with the West and widespread financial discontent exacerbated by Western sanctions.
Supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the ultimate say in all state issues in Iran, solid his poll when polls opened.
“I heard that the keenness and curiosity of the individuals is greater than earlier than, reward to God that will probably be like this, and whether it is like this, will probably be gratifying,” he mentioned.
State tv confirmed voters queueing in Saveh in central Iran and Kerman within the south, however AFP correspondents mentioned polling stations appeared much less busy in Tehran.
In final week’s first spherical, Pezeshkian, who was the one reformist permitted to face, gained the biggest variety of votes, round 42 p.c, whereas Jalili got here second with 39 p.c, in line with figures from Iran’s elections authority.
Solely 40 p.c of Iran’s 61 million eligible voters took half — the bottom turnout in any presidential election for the reason that Islamic Revolution of 1979.
In previous elections, authorities have prolonged polling hours to offer voters the utmost time to end up and the inside ministry introduced that they’d once more be prolonged on Friday, till 10:00 pm (1830 GMT).
Low turnout
Khamenei referred to as for a better turnout within the runoff, emphasising the significance of the election.
He mentioned the primary spherical turnout was decrease than anticipated, however added that it was not an act “in opposition to the system”.
The election was initially scheduled for 2025 however was introduced ahead by Raisi’s dying in a helicopter crash in Might.
Pezeshkian and Jalili have taken half in two televised debates throughout which they mentioned the low turnout, in addition to Iran’s financial woes, worldwide relations and web restrictions.
Pezeshkian vowed to “totally” oppose police patrols imposing the necessary headband for ladies, a high-profile challenge for the reason that dying in police custody in 2022 of Mahsa Amini.
The 22-year-old Iranian Kurd had been detained for an alleged breach of the gown code and her dying sparked months of nationwide unrest.
Following the unrest, girls more and more flouted the code however police have once more stepped up checks in latest months.
At a Tehran polling station, 48-year-old Fatemeh mentioned she voted for the reformist whose “priorities embrace girls and younger individuals’s rights.”
The candidacy of Pezeshkian, a relative unknown till not too long ago, has raised the hopes of Iran’s reformists after years of dominance by the conservative and ultraconservative camps.
Jalili, famous for his uncompromising anti-Western place, mobilised a considerable base of hardline help and acquired backing from different ultraconservative candidates.
Whereas campaigning, the 58-year-old criticised moderates for having signed the 2015 deal which promised Iran sanctions aid in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.
Jalili mentioned the accord, which the US withdrew from in 2018 below then-president Donald Trump, “didn’t profit Iran in any respect”.
‘Fed up’
“I voted for Jalili as a result of the following president shouldn’t repeat the earlier mistake and signal a brand new settlement with the West,” mentioned Ali, a 38-year-old college professor, at a polling station in central Tehran.
“They deceived us as soon as and that is sufficient. Their guarantees can’t be trusted,” mentioned Ali, who gave solely his first title.
Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old coronary heart surgeon, has referred to as for “constructive relations” with Western nations to revive the nuclear deal to be able to “get Iran out of its isolation”.
Pezeshkian voted at a college west of Tehran the place he was accompanied by former overseas minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who helped clinch the 2015 deal.
A member of parliament representing the northwestern metropolis of Tabriz since 2008, he has earned the help of Iran’s reformists, with former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani backing his candidacy.
Casting his poll on Friday, Khatami urged Iranians to vote “for the longer term and good of the nation”.
Pezeshkian mentioned individuals had been “fed up with their dwelling circumstances… and dissatisfied with the federal government’s administration of affairs.”
Jalili has held a number of senior positions, together with in Khamenei’s workplace within the early 2000s.
He’s at present one in all Khamenei’s representatives within the Supreme Nationwide Safety Council, Iran’s highest safety physique.
The election, referred to as early after the dying of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, follows a primary spherical marked by a traditionally low turnout final week.
The runoff between reformist Masoud Pezeshkian and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili comes amid heightened regional tensions over the Gaza struggle, Iran’s nuclear standoff with the West and widespread financial discontent exacerbated by Western sanctions.
Supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the ultimate say in all state issues in Iran, solid his poll when polls opened.
“I heard that the keenness and curiosity of the individuals is greater than earlier than, reward to God that will probably be like this, and whether it is like this, will probably be gratifying,” he mentioned.
State tv confirmed voters queueing in Saveh in central Iran and Kerman within the south, however AFP correspondents mentioned polling stations appeared much less busy in Tehran.
In final week’s first spherical, Pezeshkian, who was the one reformist permitted to face, gained the biggest variety of votes, round 42 p.c, whereas Jalili got here second with 39 p.c, in line with figures from Iran’s elections authority.
Solely 40 p.c of Iran’s 61 million eligible voters took half — the bottom turnout in any presidential election for the reason that Islamic Revolution of 1979.
In previous elections, authorities have prolonged polling hours to offer voters the utmost time to end up and the inside ministry introduced that they’d once more be prolonged on Friday, till 10:00 pm (1830 GMT).
Low turnout
Khamenei referred to as for a better turnout within the runoff, emphasising the significance of the election.
He mentioned the primary spherical turnout was decrease than anticipated, however added that it was not an act “in opposition to the system”.
The election was initially scheduled for 2025 however was introduced ahead by Raisi’s dying in a helicopter crash in Might.
Pezeshkian and Jalili have taken half in two televised debates throughout which they mentioned the low turnout, in addition to Iran’s financial woes, worldwide relations and web restrictions.
Pezeshkian vowed to “totally” oppose police patrols imposing the necessary headband for ladies, a high-profile challenge for the reason that dying in police custody in 2022 of Mahsa Amini.
The 22-year-old Iranian Kurd had been detained for an alleged breach of the gown code and her dying sparked months of nationwide unrest.
Following the unrest, girls more and more flouted the code however police have once more stepped up checks in latest months.
At a Tehran polling station, 48-year-old Fatemeh mentioned she voted for the reformist whose “priorities embrace girls and younger individuals’s rights.”
The candidacy of Pezeshkian, a relative unknown till not too long ago, has raised the hopes of Iran’s reformists after years of dominance by the conservative and ultraconservative camps.
Jalili, famous for his uncompromising anti-Western place, mobilised a considerable base of hardline help and acquired backing from different ultraconservative candidates.
Whereas campaigning, the 58-year-old criticised moderates for having signed the 2015 deal which promised Iran sanctions aid in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.
Jalili mentioned the accord, which the US withdrew from in 2018 below then-president Donald Trump, “didn’t profit Iran in any respect”.
‘Fed up’
“I voted for Jalili as a result of the following president shouldn’t repeat the earlier mistake and signal a brand new settlement with the West,” mentioned Ali, a 38-year-old college professor, at a polling station in central Tehran.
“They deceived us as soon as and that is sufficient. Their guarantees can’t be trusted,” mentioned Ali, who gave solely his first title.
Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old coronary heart surgeon, has referred to as for “constructive relations” with Western nations to revive the nuclear deal to be able to “get Iran out of its isolation”.
Pezeshkian voted at a college west of Tehran the place he was accompanied by former overseas minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who helped clinch the 2015 deal.
A member of parliament representing the northwestern metropolis of Tabriz since 2008, he has earned the help of Iran’s reformists, with former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani backing his candidacy.
Casting his poll on Friday, Khatami urged Iranians to vote “for the longer term and good of the nation”.
Pezeshkian mentioned individuals had been “fed up with their dwelling circumstances… and dissatisfied with the federal government’s administration of affairs.”
Jalili has held a number of senior positions, together with in Khamenei’s workplace within the early 2000s.
He’s at present one in all Khamenei’s representatives within the Supreme Nationwide Safety Council, Iran’s highest safety physique.
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