Iran counts ballots in presidential vote

World Today

Iran ElectionA voter gets ballots to cast in the presidential and municipal council election at a polling station in the city of Qom, 78 miles (125 kilometers) south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Ballots are being counted in an Iranian presidential election that could alter Tehran’s foreign policy. Voters turned out in record numbers.

CGTN’s Tony Cheng reports from Tehran.

First results are expected on Saturday in Iran’s presidential election, which saw incumbent Hassan Rouhani facing a strong challenge from a more conservative candidate, Ebrahim Raisi.

So many people turned out to vote that election officials extended voting hours three times.

The election was seen as an indicator of whether Iran would continue to open up to the West, as it has under Rouhani, or turn inward. It is the first presidential vote since the Iran nuclear agreement was reached with world powers in 2015.

Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, cast his vote early and urged Iranians to turn out in large numbers. Khamenei is considered a supporter of Raisi.

High voter turnout was expected to benefit the relatively moderate Rouhani. If no candidate wins a majority of the votes, a runoff will be held May 26.


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