Runoff presidential polls start in Iran

TEHRAN – The runoff presidential election began in Iran on Friday at 8:00 local time with the tight competition between pro-reform Masoud Pezeshkian and conservative Saeed Jalili.

Among the four presidential candidates in the June 28 snap election, Pezeshkian won 10.41 million votes and conservative Jalili 9.47 million. In the first round, neither of the two candidates succeeded to garner 50 percent of the votes cast.

The two candidates held two televised debates on Monday and Tuesday. The two almost see eye-to-eye on certain steps needed to be taken to alleviate the economic problems. However, they differed on the implementation of the FATF and removing the U.S.-led sanctions on Iran.

Pezeshkian insists on the need to fully implement the FATF and also lift economic sanctions.  But Jalili says Iran should diversify its economic activities and make the U.S. regret its sanction on Iran.

The candidates also differ on economic policies at home. Pezeshkian said the government should allow the private sector to thrive. However, Jalili believes in more state-controlled economy. 

They also differed on the way to achieve an eight-percent economic growth as stated in the economic development plan.

Ayatollah Khamenei casts his vote

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khameni cast his votes in the first minutes of the elections at the presence of local and foreign correspondents.

Leader told reporters that he has been informed that turnout is more than the last Friday and if this is so it is “pleasing”.

“I have heard that people’s enthusiasm is more than the first round. I hope it is so. And if it is so it is pleasing,” the Leader pointed out.

In the June presidential elections the turnout was about 40 percent.