Iranians vote in runoff election
{{date|June 24, 2005}}
[[Image:Flag of Iran.svg|thumb|The national flag of Iran]]
Iranians are voting in Iran's first follow up run-off presidential election today as no candidate received more than 50% in last weeks election. The polls opened at 0430 UTC.

The choice is between conservative candidate [[w:Mahmoud Ahmadinejad|Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] (now mayor of Tehran) who has promised the poor a greater share of Iran's oil revenues and [[w:Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani|Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani]] who was considered a conservative candidate in the past but now portrays himself as a reform candidate.  Rafsanjani has committed himself to keeping the reforms started by outgoing President Mohammad Khatami.

Iran has a very young population and it is reported the country is divided between a more open westernized society and a return (continuation) of an Islamic society.

Regardless of which candidate wins, final outcomes are still controlled by Iran's unelected Clerical Ruling Council.

== Related news ==

* [[Iran election going to run-off, challenger alleges fraud]]
* [[Bomb blasts kill several in Iran]]
* [[Continuing civil unrest in Iran fueled by election tensions, soccer victory]]
* [[Iranian opposition group declares all acts of current government void]]

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=8886820&src=rss/worldNews
|title=Iranians vote in tight presidential run-off race
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=June 24, 2005}} 
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8888820
|title=Iran officials see marred vote in tense election
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=June 24, 2005}} 
*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050624/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_elections%3b_ylt=A9FJqZOcVbxCRkABUwRI2ocA%3b_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
|title=Iranians Pack Polls in Presidential Vote 
|author=Brian Murphy
|pub=Associated Press
|date=June 24, 2005}} 

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Iran]]
[[Category:Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]]
[[Category:Tehran]]
[[Category:Hashemi Rafsanjani]]
The national flag of Iran
Iranians are voting in Iran's first follow up run-off presidential election today as no candidate received more than 50% in last weeks election. The polls opened at 0430 UTC.

The choice is between conservative candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (now mayor of Tehran) who has promised the poor a greater share of Iran's oil revenues and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani who was considered a conservative candidate in the past but now portrays himself as a reform candidate.  Rafsanjani has committed himself to keeping the reforms started by outgoing President Mohammad Khatami.

Iran has a very young population and it is reported the country is divided between a more open westernized society and a return (continuation) of an Islamic society.

Regardless of which candidate wins, final outcomes are still controlled by Iran's unelected Clerical Ruling Council.
Politics and conflicts Elections Middle East Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tehran Hashemi Rafsanjani