In pictures: Iranian voters go to the polls

Iranian woman casts vote at polling station in Qom. 14 June 2013

Ballots are being counted in Iran's presidential election to choose a successor for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Polling station in Tajrish square in northern Tehran. 14 June 2013

Voting was extended until late into the evening to cater for the long queues that had formed outside many polling stations.

Iranian men display identification cards as they line up to vote in Qom. 14 June 2013.

These men in Qom had their identification papers ready to receive their ballot papers. In some areas voters had to queue in sweltering summer temperatures.

Iranians stand in line to vote at a mosque during the Iranian presidential election in Tehran June 14

Many observers were surprised by the apparent enthusiasm with which Iranians turned out at polling stations. In the poorer south of the capital, Tehran, queues were particularly long.

Iranian youths ride their bicycles past campaign posters of Mohsen Rezai, conservative presidential candidate and former chief of the Revolutionary Guards, and candidates for the municipality election in central Tehran

Tehran has been covered in posters promoting the various presidential and municipal candidates. Some 50 million Iranians are eligible to vote. The decline of the national economy dominates election issues.

A crowd of reporters and photographers record the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, casting his vote in Tehran, June 14

Not many Iranians doubt that real power lies with the Muslim establishment, symbolised by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He called for a large turnout but did not publicly state his preference for any single candidate.

An Iranian woman casts her ballot in the presidential election at a polling station in Tehran, June 14.

Many Iranian women have expressed hopes that the election will bring them freedoms and job opportunities denied during the eight years of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency.

Tehran Mayor and Iranian presidential candidate, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, listens to women as he arrives at a polling station for the presidential election in Tehran, June 14. He also has a high-profile wife with her own political identity.

The Mayor of Tehran, Mohammad Badher Qalibaf, is one of the six presidential candidates. He is a former Revolutionary Guard commander and veteran of the Iran-Iraq war.

Iranian moderate presidential candidate, Hassan Rouhani flashes the sign of victory as he leaves a polling station after voting on June 14.

Well ahead in early counting is the only remaining moderate candidate, Hassan Rouhani. His supporters are optimistic, given divided conservative ranks and the fact that the only other moderate contender recently pulled out of the race. Mr Rouhani, a cleric, has called for greater media freedom and more engagement with the West.

Iranian women walk past photos of conservative presidential candidate, Saeed Jalili, the country's top nuclear negotiator

The campaign of Saeed Jalili, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, has been considered a strong one. His slogan, chanted by supporters, is: "No compromise; no submission." Considered a hardliner, he is believed to have backing from many in the ruling theocracy.

Men stand in line to vote during the Iranian presidential election at a mosque in Qom, 120 km (74.6 miles) south of Tehran

One man waiting to cast his ballot in a long queue in Qom, 120km (75 miles) south of Tehran, told the BBC: "I think the one who can resist our enemies and defend our interests will be elected by the people."

An Iranian national shows his finger covered in ink after voting at the Iran Interests Section office in Washington

Members of the big Iranian diaspora have been voting at diplomatic missions around the globe, including here in Washington DC.

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