In the first round of Iran's presidential election, a reformist candidate emerged as the frontrunner, setting the stage for a runoff against a conservative hardliner next week. None of the four candidates managed to secure over 50% of the vote, necessitating a second round scheduled for July 5. The election witnessed the lowest voter turnout since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979.
Reformist lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian garnered the most votes with 10.5 million, closely followed by ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili with nearly 9.5 million votes. Out of 60 million eligible voters, only 24 million cast their ballots, resulting in a 40% turnout. The results are subject to review by the Guardian Council, a 12-member body responsible for overseeing elections and legislation.
