Iran election: Hard-liner Ebrahim Raisi set to become Iran’s new president as rivals concede

Ebrahim Raisi waves to the media after casting his vote at a polling station in Tehran. Credit: AP

The moderate candidate in Iran's presidential election has conceded the loss to the country's hard-line judiciary chief, Ebrahim Raisi.The move implied the protege of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has won the election, albeit expectedly.

Former Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati, who is considered a moderate, and former Revolutionary Guard commander Mohsen Rezaei offered their congratulations to Ebrahim Raisi.

However, counting continued from Friday’s vote and authorities have yet to offer any official results.

Officials count ballots in the presidential election Credit: Vahid Salemi/AP

Opinion polling by state-linked organisations, along with analysts, indicated that Mr Raisi — who is already under US sanctions — was the front-runner in a field of only four candidates.

That led to widespread apathy among eligible voters in the Islamic Republic, which has previously viewed turnout as a sign of support for the theocracy since its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Mr Hemmati offered his congratulations on Instagram to Raisi early on Saturday.

“I hope your administration provides causes for pride for the Islamic Republic of Iran, improves the economy and life with comfort and welfare for the great nation of Iran,” he wrote.

Former Iranian Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati has conceded defeat Credit: Vahid Salemi/AP

On Twitter, Mr Rezaei praised Mr Khamenei and the Iranian people for taking part in the vote.

“God willing, the decisive election of my esteemed brother, Ayatollah Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, promises the establishment of a strong and popular government to solve the country’s problems,” Mr Rezaei wrote.

As night fell on Friday, turnout appeared far lower than in Iran’s last presidential election in 2017.

Some polling stations were left deserted amid a feeling of apathy among voters, who believe the hardline head of the judiciary Ebrahim Raisi seems all but certain to win.

Ballots closed at 2am on Saturday after the government extended voting to accommodate what it called “crowding” at several polling places nationwide.

Paper ballots, stuffed into large plastic boxes, were to be counted by hand through the night, and authorities said they expected to have initial results and turnout figures on Saturday morning at the earliest.