Former Iranian Reformist President Casts Vote in Election

(FNA)- Iran's Former President Seyed Mohammad Khatami, a leading reformist leader, cast his vote in the ballet box in a Northern Tehran polling station on Friday, a presence which revealed the untruthfulness of the claims made by the western media about the boycott of the elections by a major part of reformist parties.

Khatami cast his vote in the ballet box in Jamaran mosque in Northern Tehran this morning.

The move by the key reformist figure came as the western media reports claimed that the presidential elections have been boycotted by the main opposition and some reformist groups.

The 11th Presidential and 4th City & Village Councils elections started across the country at 08:00 hours Tehran's time (0330 GMT) Friday.

Voting will last 10 hours and polling stations close at 6 pm, although voting hours could be extended if necessary. Counting of the ballots will start at 24:00 on Friday and final results will be announced in the following 24 hours.

Presidential campaign for today's election kicked off on May 22 after the Guardian Council released the list of 8 qualified candidates - although 6 have remained in the race now - and ended at 8:00 local time on Thursday.

The qualified candidates represent a wide range of political streams from Principlists to reformers.

In addition to Rouhani, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former Iranian Foreign Minister and Supreme Leader's top advisor for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati, Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary and chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, former Oil and Telecommunication Minister Seyed Mohammad Qarazi, and former Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander and Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezayee are fighting for the presidential post today.

According to presidential election laws, all Iranian nationals above 18 years of age are eligible to vote.