TEHRAN -- Iranians vote on 
Friday to elect a new president from six candidates, who have all pledged to work toward having illegal sanctions on the country removed. 
A presidential election had not been due until 2025, but was brought forward after President Ebrahim Raisi lost his life in a helicopter crash last month.
The snap poll comes at a challenging time as Iran grapples with the economic impact of U.S. sanctions amid heightened regional tensions over the Gaza war between the occupying regime of Israel and Hamas.
In April Iran fired more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel after an airstrike on the Islamic Republic consular section in Damascus martyred seven Iranians. 
Polling is also being held just five months before a presidential election in the United States, Iran’s sworn enemy and Israel’s staunch ally.
Leading contenders for Iran’s second highest-ranking office are parliament speaker Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf, former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, and member of parliament, Massoud Pezeshkian.
The others are Tehran mayor Alireza Zakani, former interior and justice minister Mostafa Pourmuhammadi, and incumbent vice president Amirhussein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi, the head of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs
The six have staged largely low-key campaigns, which included televised debates where they vowed to tackle economic challenges and offered varied views on Iran’s relations with the West.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Tuesday called for “maximum” voter turnout to “overcome the enemy,” criticizing politicians who believe that everything good comes from the U.S.
“Elections are always a test, but now they are more so than ever,” he said. “Everyone who is interested in a strong and proud Iran and everyone who believes in supporting the establishment should participate in the elections.”
Whoever wins the election faces the effects of soaring inflation and the decline of the rial against the dollar.
Of the main contenders, Ghalibaf is a veteran politician and former member of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.
Reformist figures including former president Muhammad Khatami and ex-foreign minister Muhammad Javad Zarif have endorsed Pezeshkian. However, some Iranians view the 69-year-old Pezeshkian as lacking government experience -- he only served as health minister about 20 years ago.
Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator known for his non-compromising stance towards the West, seems to be attracting support from revolutionary Iranian.
Alireza Valadkhani, a 35-year-old tax consultant, said he will vote for Ghalibaf as he “is the only one who can help Iran in its current situation”.
Ayatollah Khamenei said Tuesday the most qualified candidate is the one who is capable of tapping into domestic opportunities and capacities, among them the country’s young, educated generation.
The Leader criticized those who think progress can only be achieved by relying on foreign powers and the illusion that the U.S. is the only path to development. 
“Those who are pinning their hopes on outside the country do not see capacities within. When they do not see or understand the value of these capacities, they will naturally fail to make plans to use them.” 
Not relying on foreigners is a demonstration of valor and national independence, the Leader said, adding with these two components, the Iranian nation will showcase its capability, character, and power, and garner further respect on the global stage.
Ayatollah Khamenei said despite facing hostility and challenges, the Islamic Republic has advanced with the help of God and without relying on foreigners. 
“The Iranian nation will not permit others to determine its fate in the future either,” he added.