Reformist candidate Pezeshkian takes lead in Iran’s snap election
Iran's election center spokesman Mohsen Eslami makes a statement on the election results as vote counting continues in Tehran, Iran, June 29, 2024. (AA Photo)
Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian is leading in Iran’s snap election, held following the death of late President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month.
According to a spokesman from the country’s election headquarters, Pezeshkian has secured 42.3% of the vote. He is followed by candidate Saeed Jalili, who has garnered 39.5% in the four-candidate race, with over 14 million votes counted since ballot boxes were opened at midnight.
The other candidates in the race are Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Mostafa Pourmohammadi.
For a candidate to win in the first round, they must receive more than 50% of the votes. If no candidate surpasses this threshold, a runoff election will be held on July 5.
