In an 'unprecedented' heavy turnout, the Iranian presidential elections started yesterday. The competition is fierce between incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, reformist Mir Hossein Moussavi, former parliament speaker Mehdi Karrubi, and secretary of Iran's Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaie. Since the early hours of voting throughout and outside Iran, the number of voters in this presidential election, the tenth since the Iranian Revolution, was twice more than 2005 elections. Observers expect that there will be a runoff between the four candidates next Friday, if any of them failed to get 50% +1 of votes. Through the words of Kamran Danishgu, the head of the elections committee, the ministry of interior emphasized that the time of closing down the election centers might be extended; especially since the participation seems bigger than before. Danishgu also pointed out that the results will be announced within 24 hours after closing. The participation ratio is considered essential for ending the election battle as it decides whether the candidates will have to go through a reiteration round or one of them will mange to achieve a decisive victory in the first round. Since the beginning of the voting at the Imam Khumayni Husayniya directorate, the supreme leader of Islamic Revolution, Ayatullah Ali Khamen'I has cast his vote in the mobile box number 110. Immediately after casting his vote at a mosque south east Tehran, Nijad said that the major increase in the number of voters reveals the desire to stay on the way of dignity, progress and prosperity. However, in statements he made after casting his vote, Musawi regarded the enthusiasm shown by the Iranians at the election centers as a desire for change. Meanwhile, Nijad closed - sources denied Musawi's ally's claim pertaining to Musawi's winning the elections, describing such claims as psychological warfare. Simultaneously, Israel is closely observing the elections, whereas the senior Israeli defense officials declared that the results of the elections will not change the Iranian nuclear program, assuming that Iran will continue its program no matter which candidate will be the next president. An Israeli official, who demanded not to reveal his identity, said that it would be better if Nijad wins, despite his ant-Israeli declarations, because that would help in getting much more international support to stop the Iranian nuclear program.
