02:55NO Access Israel Media/Persian Language TV Stations Outside Iran/Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International**
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei cast his vote in Tehran on Friday in the first round of the early presidential elections, called after President Ebrahim Raisi died a helicopter crash last month.
"It (voting) is an easy thing that has important results. Why should a person hesitate to do something that does not cost, labour, time, and pressure, but has many benefits, especially considering the point I mentioned, the stability of the Islamic Republic depends on the participation of the people," he said.
Polling stations opened on Friday morning to 61 million eligible voters in Iran, with voting scheduled to last for 10 hours without the need for an extension.
The Guardian Council approved six candidates to run in the presidential race, including five conservatives, two of whom, Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi and Alireza Zakani, withdrew their candidatures before the election. The three remaining conservative candidates are Saeed Jalili, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Mostafa Pourhossein, as well as a reformist candidate, Masoud Pezeshkian.
The council also disqualified several prominent politicians including former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani.
If no candidate secures more than 50 per cent of the vote, a runoff will be held within a week between the top two candidates, according to Iranian law.
'The Islamic Republic's stability depends on participation' - Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei casts vote in presidential election
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei cast his vote in Tehran on Friday in the first round of the early presidential elections, called after President Ebrahim Raisi died a helicopter crash last month.
"It (voting) is an easy thing that has important results. Why should a person hesitate to do something that does not cost, labour, time, and pressure, but has many benefits, especially considering the point I mentioned, the stability of the Islamic Republic depends on the participation of the people," he said.
Polling stations opened on Friday morning to 61 million eligible voters in Iran, with voting scheduled to last for 10 hours without the need for an extension.
The Guardian Council approved six candidates to run in the presidential race, including five conservatives, two of whom, Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi and Alireza Zakani, withdrew their candidatures before the election. The three remaining conservative candidates are Saeed Jalili, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Mostafa Pourhossein, as well as a reformist candidate, Masoud Pezeshkian.
The council also disqualified several prominent politicians including former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani.
If no candidate secures more than 50 per cent of the vote, a runoff will be held within a week between the top two candidates, according to Iranian law.
NO Access Israel Media/Persian Language TV Stations Outside Iran/Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International**
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei cast his vote in Tehran on Friday in the first round of the early presidential elections, called after President Ebrahim Raisi died a helicopter crash last month.
"It (voting) is an easy thing that has important results. Why should a person hesitate to do something that does not cost, labour, time, and pressure, but has many benefits, especially considering the point I mentioned, the stability of the Islamic Republic depends on the participation of the people," he said.
Polling stations opened on Friday morning to 61 million eligible voters in Iran, with voting scheduled to last for 10 hours without the need for an extension.
The Guardian Council approved six candidates to run in the presidential race, including five conservatives, two of whom, Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi and Alireza Zakani, withdrew their candidatures before the election. The three remaining conservative candidates are Saeed Jalili, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Mostafa Pourhossein, as well as a reformist candidate, Masoud Pezeshkian.
The council also disqualified several prominent politicians including former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani.
If no candidate secures more than 50 per cent of the vote, a runoff will be held within a week between the top two candidates, according to Iranian law.