Reformist and hardliner head to run-off in Iran presidential election

Iranian presidential reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian (C) casts his ballot during Iran's 2024 early presidential elections at Firouzabadi Hospital polling station in Shahre Ray, southern Tehran. Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, Iranians vote on June 28 to choose a new president. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to participate in the election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and conservative hardliner Saeed Jalili will go to a run-off vote in Iran's presidential election, the country's electoral authority said on Saturday.

Pezeshkian received around 42.5% of the vote and Jalili followed at 38.7%. There were two other candidates in the race.

As none achieved an absolute majority, the run-off will take place on July 5.

Some 61 million voters in Iran were eligible to elect a successor to hardliner Ebrahim Raisi on Friday, after he died in a helicopter crash in May.

Iranian presidential reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian (C) waves to the media before casting his vote during Iran's 2024 early presidential elections at Firouzabadi Hospital polling station in Shahre Ray, southern Tehran. Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, Iranians vote on June 28 to choose a new president. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to participate in the election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa