Iranians start voting in key presidential election

Iranians have begun voting in a closely-fought presidential contest between pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani and hardline challenger Ebrahim Raisi that could determine the pace of social and economic reform and Iran's re-engagement with the world.


State television showed long queues outside polling stations in several cities and said 56 million Iranians out of the more than 80 million population were eligible to vote

"Everyone should vote in this important election ... vote at early hours," Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said after casting his vote in the capital Tehran.

"The country's fate is determined by the people."

Polls close at 6pm local time, although authorities often extend voting into the evening.
  [rte.ie]
19/5/17