Partial results from Iran’s presidential election show moderate cleric Hassan Rohani heading toward a possible first-round victory with just over half the votes.
With more than 12 million votes counted, the Interior Ministry said the reformist-backed Rohani had more than 50.3 percent of the June 14 vote.
The results show conservative Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf in a distant second place with just over 16 percent.
The vote will advance to a second round on June 21 if no candidate secures the 50 percent needed for an outright victory.
Authorities have estimated voter turnout at more than 70 percent of Iran’s 50 million eligible voters, meaning more than 20 million votes remain uncounted.
Voters were choosing between six candidates to replace President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, who has served the maximum two consecutive terms.
All six candidates were approved to campaign by the conservative, unelected Guardians Council.
No international observers came to Iran to monitor the election process.
Voting was extended by several hours at polling stations across the country in the first presidential election since the disputed poll of 2009.
Allegations of widespread electoral fraud marred that election and led to a crackdown by security forces on opposition supporters that was condemned in the West.
Enforcing The Leader’s Will
In the Islamic republic’s political system, Iran’s supreme leader, not the president, holds the ultimate decision-making power — including commanding the army, directing foreign policy, and overseeing projects such as Iran’s nuclear program.
Candidate Rohani has recently backed greater freedom of expression and pledged to free political prisoners.
He is also a former chief nuclear negotiator for Iran and supports the continuation of the country’s controversial nuclear program. Many Western states say the program is being used as cover for building a nuclear weapon.
Former Iranian Presidents Mohammad Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, as well as the supreme leader’s younger brother, Hadi Khamenei, have thrown their support behind Rohani.
Mohammad Reza Aref, a reformist, received approval to campaign but withdrew from the race earlier this week to increase Rohani’s chances of winning.
After casting his vote in Tehran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed those who questioned the democratic nature of the election.
“I recently heard that someone from America’s National Security Council said, ‘We don’t accept this election in Iran.’ Well, to hell with you if you don’t accept it,” Khamenei said.
Khamenei did not make clear whom he was referring to. But last month U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry cast doubt on the credibility of the election following the disqualification of hundreds candidates, including those whom observers considered potential reformers and all the women who wanted to run.
Kerry criticized what he called a “lack of transparency” in the election process and said the disqualifications were “based solely on who represents the regime’s interests.”
With reporting by Reuters, AP, and RFE/RL’s Radio Farda
By RFE/RL