JAKARTA - Moderate figure Masoud Pezeshkian, who promised to open Iran to the world and give his people the freedom they miss, is expected to win the second round of presidential elections.
The vote count has ended and rival candidates have been notified of the outcome. Pezeshkian is ahead of about three million votes from his arch-rival Saeed Jalili, "said a source who asked not to be named.
Videos on social media showed Pezeshkian supporters dancing on the streets in several cities and motorists honking car horns to cheer for their victory.
Meanwhile, residents in the city of Urmia, Pezeshkian's hometown, distributed candy on the streets.
While this election is not expected to have a major impact on the policies of the Islamic Republic, the president will be closely involved in the election for the successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's 85-year-old Supreme Leader who is responsible for all important state affairs.
The number of participating voters has declined over the past four years, which critics say underscores support for clerical rule has been eroding in times of increasing public dissatisfaction over economic difficulties and restrictions on political and social freedom.
Only 48 percent of voters participated in the 2021 election brought Raisi to power, and the number of voters reached 41 percent in parliamentary elections in March.
The election coincided with rising tensions in the Middle East due to the war between Israel and Iran's Hamas allies in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as increasing Western pressure on Iran over its rapidly growing uranium enrichment program.
"Voting gives strength. Even if there is criticism, the public must choose because every voice is like launching a missile (against the enemy)," said Iranian Revolutionary Guard's Aerospace Commander Amirali Hajizadeh to state media.
The next president is not expected to make major changes to nuclear program policies or changes in support of militia groups in the Middle East.
But he runs a daily government and can influence Iran's foreign and domestic policies.
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