| BBC News | - |
Iranians
are waiting for the results from Friday's presidential election, with
early counts showing a clear lead for the reformist-linked candidate.
15 June 2013
Last updated at 00:01 ET
Mr Rouhani had garnered about 45% of the votes after after almost two million ballots had been counted,
Some 50 million Iranians were eligible to vote to decide a successor to outgoing leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
His eight years in power have been characterised by economic turmoil and Western sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear programme.
The count was slightly delayed after officials pushed back polling station closing times by five hours.
Although all six candidates are seen as conservatives, analysts say Mr Rouhani has been reaching out to reformists in recent days.
The surge of support for him came after Mohammad Reza Aref, the only reformist candidate in the race, announced on Tuesday that he was withdrawing on the advice of pro-reform ex-President Mohammad Khatami.
Mr Rouhani now has the endorsement of two ex-presidents - Mr Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani - who was disqualified from the race by the powerful Guardian Council.
However, Mr Rouhani faces a tough challenge from hardline candidates, including top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Tehran's mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
The remaining candidates are seen as conservatives close to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
Polls eventually closed at 23:00 local time (18:30 GMT) and counting started soon afterwards.
"We ask people not to pay attention to rumours of victory parades being organised and to avoid gathering before the official results," the statement said.
Earlier, Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar told state TV that any presidential candidates unhappy with the results would have three days to lodge complaints to the vetting body, the Guardian Council.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cast his ballot in Tehran accompanied by Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi and government spokesman Gholam Hoseyn Elham, Fars news agency reported.
Journalists detained Friday's presidential election is the first since 2009, when protesters took to the streets alleging the results had been rigged in favour of Mr Ahmadinejad.
No foreign observers have monitored the poll and there have also been concerns that media coverage in the run-up was unfair.
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Iran awaits presidential election result
Voting was extended by five hours to accommodate
the long queues of people who turned out to cast their ballot, as Kasra
Naji reports
Iranians
are waiting for the results from Friday's presidential election, with
early counts showing a clear lead for the reformist-linked candidate.
Hassan Rouhani has spoken about the need to re-engage with the West and has promised to free political prisoners.Mr Rouhani had garnered about 45% of the votes after after almost two million ballots had been counted,
Some 50 million Iranians were eligible to vote to decide a successor to outgoing leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
His eight years in power have been characterised by economic turmoil and Western sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear programme.
The count was slightly delayed after officials pushed back polling station closing times by five hours.
Although all six candidates are seen as conservatives, analysts say Mr Rouhani has been reaching out to reformists in recent days.
The surge of support for him came after Mohammad Reza Aref, the only reformist candidate in the race, announced on Tuesday that he was withdrawing on the advice of pro-reform ex-President Mohammad Khatami.
Mr Rouhani now has the endorsement of two ex-presidents - Mr Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani - who was disqualified from the race by the powerful Guardian Council.
However, Mr Rouhani faces a tough challenge from hardline candidates, including top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Tehran's mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
The remaining candidates are seen as conservatives close to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
Polls eventually closed at 23:00 local time (18:30 GMT) and counting started soon afterwards.
Continue reading the main story
Iranian presidential elections
- Six candidates running
- Race is seen as contest between Ayatollah Ali Khamenei loyalists and moderate reformers
- About 50 million eligible voters
- If no candidate wins 50.1%, run-off held on 21 June
If no candidate secures 50.1% or more of the vote a second round will be held in a week's time.
As polls closed, representatives of all six candidates issued
a joint statement urging their supporters to remain calm until the
official results are known."We ask people not to pay attention to rumours of victory parades being organised and to avoid gathering before the official results," the statement said.
Earlier, Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar told state TV that any presidential candidates unhappy with the results would have three days to lodge complaints to the vetting body, the Guardian Council.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cast his ballot in Tehran accompanied by Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi and government spokesman Gholam Hoseyn Elham, Fars news agency reported.
Journalists detained Friday's presidential election is the first since 2009, when protesters took to the streets alleging the results had been rigged in favour of Mr Ahmadinejad.
No foreign observers have monitored the poll and there have also been concerns that media coverage in the run-up was unfair.
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