Millions of Iranians turned out to vote for their new President. In Iran, there are around 50 million eligible voters who were able to choose between six candidates. The six candidates approved to run by the Guardian Council are Saeed Jalili, Ali Akbar Velayati, Mohammed-Baqer Qalibaf, Mohsen Rezaei, Mohammad Gharazi, and Hassan Rowhani. 

Screenshot from YouTube

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the current President has served two terms and was originally elected in the 2005 election and again in 2009. However, during the 2009 election, voter fraud was reported and moderate candidates were barred from participating in the election. The Iranian people protested in outrage Presidental candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi rallied support leading to the mobilization of the Green Movement.

In the last two weeks, the United States has lifted the tough economic sanctions on the countries citizens for communication technologies. These eased restrictions are intended to promote political freedom within the country. As seen with the 2009 Presidential Election, information communication technologies played a crucial role in mobilizing against the Ahmadinejad regime leading to the rise of the Green Movement.  Online communication technologies and specifically social media were used in organizing demonstrations. 

ALSO SEE : U.S. Lifts Technology Sales Ban For Iranians

According to Reuters, “Human rights groups have criticized Iran for further arrests and curbs on activists and journalists ahead of Friday's poll and the disqualification of 678 people registered as candidates."

As a result of the 2009 Presidential Election and the Green Movement, the United States has been critical of the election calling it a “sham.” However, this morning as Iranians went to the polls, the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated "I recently heard that someone at the U.S. National Security Council said 'we do not accept this election in Iran', we don't give a damn." 

The entire world is monitoring the election because lack of diplomacy with the country and its nuclear program. President Ahmadinejad has taken a tough stance on nuclear talks over the last 8 years and very little progress has been made. 

The Interior Ministry of Iranian announced that voting would be extended by several hours.

Reach Executive Producer Helene Imperiale here. Follow her here.