Iran's snap presidential election begins with poll opening

Voting stations in Iran opened at 08:00 am (0430 GMT) Friday for a snap presidential election, the ministry of interior said, following the death of president Ebrahim Raisi.

"We start the elections" for the country's 14th presidential elections, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said in a televised address.

Spokesman for Iran's Constitutional Council Hadi Tahan Nazif said on June, 27 that nearly 59,000 polling stations have been set up in more than 95 states for the country's 14th presidential election, scheduled for June 28.

He made the remarks at a press conference in the Iranian capital Tehran, while elaborating on the details of the upcoming election and voting process.

Nazif stressed that following the "painful" death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19, the entire preparatory process of the snap election was completed in close to 40 days, which shows the "strength and power" of the country's Islamic establishment.

He said election observers, including those of the Constitutional Council, would be present at all polling stations inside the country and abroad to supervise the voting process according to law.

He stressed that the Iranian Interior Ministry would be the official reference for announcing the election results, advising the candidates and their fans against any hasty speculation following the voting process.

Iran's 14th presidential election, initially set for 2025, was rescheduled following Raisi's unexpected death.