TEHRAN (Iran News) –  Iran Holds Election, Showcases Democracy. Iranians went to polls to elect the 13th president of the Islamic Republic of Iran amid negative propagations from the foreign-based opposition and enemies of the country.

Under observing sanitary protocols for the COVUD-19 pandemic, polls have opened nationwide in Iran’s 2021 presidential election. Over 59.3 million Iranians are eligible to vote for one of four candidates running.

Polls opened across the country at 07:00 am local time on Friday, June 18, and ran the late in the evening. Over 59.3m Iranians were eligible to vote for one of the four remaining candidates in the race.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei cast his ballot early on.

“Election Day is the day of the Iranian nation. Today, people are in charge,” Ayatollah Khamenei said after casting his vote. “Even one single vote counts. No one should say ‘What will my one vote do?’ These one votes become millions when combined.”

The Leader also called on the Iranian nation to participate in the election as early as possible.

Ayatollah Khamenei also expressed his gratitude to the reporters who are busy with their job in the voting process and recommended the masses to participate in the election with due care, recognition and consideration.

In saying that every single vote definitely matters, Imam Khamenei advised the people, “You should participate and do this with a pure, divine intention. I advise you to do this important task at the earliest possible. The sooner you do this, the better.”

In referring to the anniversary of the birth of Imam Reza (AS), Imam Khamenei expressed hope that this Election Day will be a day of celebration for the Iranian people and that the nation will benefit from this election. In the end, the Leader thanked the election officials and the journalists who were present.”

Senior Iranian officials, including the heads of the three branches of government, also cast their votes at polling states in the capital, Tehran.

Addressing the people after casting his vote, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran was among a few countries in the world whose elections attract international attention.

He said, “People should be mindful that the whole world is today focused on the ballot boxes and the people’s queues to cast their world. God willing, we will act in a way that it will make our friends across the world happy and frustrate enemies.”

Majlis Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also cast his vote for 13th Presidential Election in a polling station in Tehran’s Abouzar Neighborhood on Friday.

Officials have stressed that health protocols will be strictly observed in all polling stations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mohsen Rezaei Mir-Ghaed, Hojjatoleslam Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi, Abdolnaser Hemmati, and Seyyed Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi are the four candidates for Iran 2021 Presidential Election.

According to the polls, Hojjatoleslam Raisi is the favorite to win the election with overwhelming majority.

Hundreds of foreign journalists are covering this major political event in the country which shows democracy in Iran