Iran supreme leader casts first ballot in presidential vote

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast the first vote just after 7:00 am (0230 GMT) at a specially installed ballot box at a mosque adjoining his offices in the capital.

He then urged Iranian’s nearly 60 million eligible voters to follow suit, saying: “The sooner you perform this task and duty, the better. Everything that the Iranian people do Friday until tonight, by going to the polls and voting, serves to build their future.”

Polls close at midnight (1930 GMT), and possibly two hours later, with results expected around noon Saturday.

The winner will take over in August as Iran’s eighth president from incumbent Hassan Rouhani, a moderate who has served the maximum of two consecutive four-year-terms allowed under the constitution.