Polling Station for Iran's Presidential Elections to Open at the Blue Mosque in Yerevan

On the eve of the presidential elections in Iran, which marks a day of silence, polling stations will open across the country starting from 8:00 AM Tehran time on June 28. Iran expert Vardan Voskanian provides insights: “The elections are highly competitive and could be full of surprises. A second round of voting is not excluded. The initially minor candidate, Masoud Pezeshkian, supported by Pan-Turkic circles, has significantly gained attention in the absence of a united candidate from conservative-nationalist factions, potentially posing challenges regarding Iran's internal developments in the second round.”

Voskanian noted, “A polling station for Iran's presidential elections will be opened at the Blue Mosque in Yerevan.”

It is worth recalling that political figures vying for the Iranian presidency include conservative spokesperson Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Tehran's Mayor Alireza Zakani, the representative of the spiritual leader in the National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, former ministers of interior and justice Mostafa Pourmohammadi (all conservatives), and former health minister Masoud Pezeshkian (reformist).

Iran's Vice President Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi announced on June 26 that he would withdraw his candidacy in favor of other conservative candidates. During the two weeks allocated for the pre-election campaign, five televised debates were held among the candidates, each focusing on specific themes: economy, foreign policy, culture, social policy, and enhancing government effectiveness.

The early presidential elections in Iran are taking place today following the tragic death of President Ebrahim Raisi.