Have you guys heard about this?

Apparently this election is really close and just recently on the news i heard that the opposition party just claimed victory.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8096411.stm

What do you guys think?

There has been a huge turnout for Iran's closely-fought election as incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seeks a second term in office.

"Voter turnout has been unprecedented," election commission chief Kamran Daneshjoo said, as long queues were reported at polling stations.

Polling has been extended by at least another four hours.

Mr Ahmadinejad faces a strong challenge from former PM Mir Hossein Mousavi in a campaign dominated by the economy.

The election is being watched closely around the world for signs of a possible shift in Tehran's attitude.

US President Barack Obama said he was "excited" about what was happening in Iran, which showed change was possible.

"Ultimately the election is for the Iranians to decide," he said.

"You're seeing people looking at new possibilities. And whoever ends up winning the election in Iran, the fact that there's been a robust debate hopefully will help advance our ability to engage them in new ways."

If no candidate gets 50% in the first round, the two front-runners will face a run-off vote

There has been a surge of interest recently in Iran's presidential election, with unprecedented live television debates between the candidates and rallies attended by thousands.

Mr Daneshjoo has said the turnout could exceed the 1997 election, in which reformist Mohammad Khatami was elected. State-run Irna TV said more than five million people cast their vote in the first four hours of voting.

The country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and both the leading candidates voted early in the day, calling on Iranians to exercise their right to choose the country's next president.

"I recommend them to just vote based on their own views and decisions," Ayatollah Khamenei said as he voted.

"God willing, the best and the most deserving person will be elected as the head of the executive body for a four-year period."

Mr Ahmadinejad thanked the people of Iran "for their goodness, for their greatness, for their selflessness, their sacrifices, and for their forgiveness".

Mr Mousavi said simply: "God willing, with the nationwide participation of the public, we will see better and more beautiful days."

Youth enthusiastic

Four candidates are contesting the election, with Mohsen Razai and Mehdi Karroubi trailing the two main contenders.

In his final TV appearance before the election, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused his opponents of conspiring with Israelis to falsify documents and graphs to discredit him.

His rivals boycotted the chance to appear on TV with him, after apparently not being offered equal airtime.

The result will be watched closely outside Iran - in the US, Israel, and European capitals - for any hint of a possible shift in the country's attitude to the rest of the world, BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says.

The timing of the election is also crucial, as the US push for a new policy of engagement with Tehran cannot really get going until the outcome of the election is clear, our correspondent adds.

The live TV debates unleashed enthusiasm among the country's young population.

BBC Iranian affairs analyst Sadeq Saba says most of them appear to be supporting the moderate candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Varied support

President Ahmadinejad draws support mainly from the urban poor and rural areas, while his rivals have huge support among the middle classes and the educated urban population.

The BBC's Jon Leyne explains the voting process in Iran

Iranian women have also shown great interest in the election and it appears many of them will be voting for the moderate candidates who have promised them more social freedoms, our analyst says.

The votes in regions with national and religious minorities are also important, as they normally vote for reformist candidates.

Mr Mousavi is an ethnic Azeri and is expected to do well in his province, as is Mahdi Karrubi in his native Lorestan province.

Iran is ruled under a system known as Velayat-e Faqih, or "Rule by the Supreme Jurist", who is currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

It was adopted by an overwhelming majority in 1979 following the Islamic revolution which overthrew the autocratic Western-backed Shah.

But the constitution also stipulates that the people are the source of power and the country holds phased presidential and parliamentary elections every four years.

All candidates are vetted by the powerful conservative-controlled Guardian Council, which also has the power to veto legislation it deems inconsistent with revolutionary principles.

I personally hope that Mr. Mir Hossein Mousavi does indeed win because the current president has constantly been calling out to kill all the jews and making his own country poorer economically.

Iran actually wasnt even doing well when the oil prices were incredibly high just a couple months ago and i know a lot of people around here that just tell me about restrictions he helped tighten on personal freedom of the people especially women there.

I guess no one cares. lol

Im not sure that this election will effect the way i live my life...

Well if you live in Isreal it is very important for you, also if you have any friends that had to flee bc of the revolution hopefully this can be the beginning to allowing some of them to be able to go back.

Some of my friends are from there but can't go back but that hopefully will change later down the road.

I prefer former President Khatami or Mehdi Karroubi to Mousavi, but Mousavi is preferable to Ahmadinejad. However, to believe that this election is going to catalyze significant change in Iran is delusional. Granted, some minor changes will be made, but the power in Iran is retained by Ayatollah Khamenei and the Guardian Council.

Its important to note that all the candidates running are pre-approved by the mullahs. No true reformer is allowed to compete. (Also, Khatami dropped out months ago and endorsed Mousavi.)

That said, Ahmadinejad is a blustering blowhard, and any true engagement with Iran will have to wait until he's gone. Hopefully, that stars today. No candidate is likely to win the majority necessary to avoid a run-off, though, so stay tuned.

Both Mousavi and Ahmadinejad are claiming to have received a majority of the vote.

/facepalm.

ahmadinejad will win.