Iranians Vote in Runoff Presidential Election

Iranians have headed to the polls in the runoff presidential election, a week after none of the candidates could secure the majority of votes in the snap election.

Polling stations opened at 8 a.m and are scheduled to close at 6 p.m. , with the possibility of extensions by the Interior Ministry. The final result will be announced, although initial figures may come out sooner.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei cast his ballot at a polling station in Tehran just as the voting began.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has hailed the Iranian people's "active involvement" in the presidential election as polls opened nationwide.

"Thank God this is a good day; the day of participation and active involvement of our dear people in a significant national event: the elections," Ayatollah Khamenei said after casting his ballot at a polling station in Tehran.

The runoff follows the June 28 election in which Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili emerged as frontrunners, yet neither secured an outright majority. 

Pezeshkian has a background as a health minister and is a legislator from Tabriz in the northwest. Jalili holds experience as a diplomat and the chief nuclear negotiator.

More than 24 million people participated in the June 28 election. 

The election seeks to appoint a successor to President Raeisi, who passed away on May 19 in a tragic helicopter crash.

Mohsen Eslami, the spokesperson for the national election headquarters, indicated that 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.

A total of 61 million individuals are eligible to vote, as confirmed by the election headquarters.