Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Friday cast his ballot in the 9th presidential election and Majlis by-elections. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at Imam Khomeini Mosque in northern Tehran, Khamenei said "when we come to the polling stations to cast our votes according to the constitutions, it means that we are voting for the Islamic system."
The Supreme Leader hoped that the next president would be able to solve problems of the country and meet its needs.According to IRNA, polling started across the country at 09:00 hours local time (0430 GMT) Friday to elect the country's next president.
Polling has started in 41,071 stations inside the country and 254 stations throughout the world. Iranian state television showed long lines outside polling stations, and voting was extended by four hours to 11 p.m..
The latest figures released by the Interior Ministry show that some 46,786,418 people are eligible to vote at the 9th presidential elections. According to The AP, none of the seven candidates was expected to gain 50 percent of the vote Friday, which would force a presidential run-off between the two top vote-getters for the first time in Iran's history.
The vote is being held under tight security control with some 20,000 policemen deployed in Tehran.
