Iran, Tehran, June 14 / Trend T. Jafarov/
Iran's former president Mohammad Khatami has left his vote at the running presidential elections in the country.
Reformist Khatami served as the fifth President of Iran from 2 August 1997 to 3 August 2005. He also served as Iran's Minister of Culture in both the 1980s and 1990s.
He is currently one of the leaders of the Iranian Green Movement, and an outspoken critic of President Ahmadinejad's government.
On June 11 Khatami announced his support for the reformist candidate Hassan Roohani in the presidential elections.
In a formal statement published on his website, Khatami thanked Mohammad Reza Aref who withdrew his candidacy in favor of Rouhani, and urged all the Iranians especially the reformists to take part in the election.
The 11th presidential elections have officially started today in Iran.
The voters will select the successor of the current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is not able to participate in the elections for the third term according to the country's constitutional laws.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election. The Guardian Council has vetted the candidates for qualifications.
Over fifty million Iranians are eligible to vote, with more than one and a half million first-time voters.
Leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khanemei cast his ballot as soon as the polls opened. Aside from Khamenei, various Iranian Grand Ayatollahs, officials, and all of active presidential candidates have left their votes.