The leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, cast his vote early Friday morning in the Hussainiyah of Imam Khomeini in Tehran as polling stations opened for Iranian citizens to elect a new president.

Following the tragic death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19, the presidential race includes candidates Saeed Jalili, Mostafa Pour Mohammadi, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, and Masoud Pezeshkian. Two candidates, Alireza Zakani and Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, withdrew from the race earlier this week.

After casting his vote, Khamenei spoke to reporters, emphasizing the importance of participation in the presidential election. He described election day as a time of activity and enthusiasm, urging Iranians to vote as a "definite necessity" for the country's dignity and reputation.

"In the essence of this system, the presence of the people is taken into account. Also, the durability of the Islamic Republic and its honor and reputation in the world depend on the presence of the people," Khamenei stated, highlighting that high voter turnout is crucial to proving the validity and integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Polling stations across Iran opened at 8 am local time and will remain open for ten hours, with the Interior Ministry authorized to extend the voting period if necessary. Over 61,450,000 eligible Iranian voters can participate in the elections, both domestically and internationally.

Approximately 59,000 polling stations have been established across the country, including over 15,000 mobile stations. Additionally, 340 polling stations have been set up in 100 countries to enable Iranian expatriates to vote. Security for the election is being ensured by forces from the police, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Basij.

An earlier survey by ISPA revealed that reformist candidate Masoud Pezekshian is leading the polls, followed closely by conservative candidate Saeed Jalili.

Iranian citizens are encouraged to participate in this pivotal election, with the nation's future leadership at stake following the sudden demise of President Raisi. (ILKHA)