Tehran, 28 June 2024– Voting for Iran's presidential election began today at 8 a.m. local time and will continue until 6 p.m. This election follows the tragic helicopter crash that killed President Ibrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister, and the governor of East Azerbaijan in Jolfa, a region bordering Azerbaijan, on May 19.

According to Arab News, two candidates, Amir Hossain Hashemi and Ali Reza Zakini, withdrew their candidacies just a day before the polls opened. The election will now be contested by four main candidates:

1. Bagher Kalibaf – The current Speaker of Parliament and former head of the Revolutionary Guards, known to be close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

2. Said Jalili – Head of the Nuclear Mediation Party and also close to Ayatollah Khamenei.

3. Mostafa Pour Mohammadi – Former Minister of Interior.

4. Masoud Pezeshkian – Reformist leader.

This election comes at a critical time for Iran, with regional tensions heightened due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and increasing Western pressure to halt Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. Additionally, the country faces internal political, social, and economic crises.

The international community is closely watching the election to understand the future direction of Iran's leadership and its impact on regional stability. The elected president will not only manage domestic affairs but also potentially influence the selection of Ayatollah Khamenei's successor, as the Supreme Leader is now 85 years old.

As the voting process unfolds, Iranians hope for a leader who can navigate the nation through these challenging times and address the numerous issues facing the country.