(MENAFN) Following Iran's recent presidential election, the Iranian Election Authority has declared a runoff scheduled for July 5th, as no candidate secured an outright majority of votes. The Interior Ministry announced that Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist candidate, and conservative Saeed Jalili emerged as the top contenders, receiving the highest number of votes among all candidates.

Mohsen Islami, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, stated that neither Pezeshkian nor Jalili achieved a majority, necessitating a second round as per electoral rules. Pezeshkian garnered more than 10 million votes, while Jalili secured over 9.4 million votes based on preliminary results released by the ministry. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the conservative Speaker of the Shura Council, placed third with over two million votes, followed by Mostafa Pourmohammadi, who received less than 200,000 votes.

The first round of voting saw a participation rate of 40 percent, reflecting a significant turnout despite ongoing challenges and geopolitical tensions. The upcoming runoff between Pezeshkian and Jalili will determine Iran's next president, shaping the country's political landscape amidst domestic and international scrutiny. 

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