Iranian leaders cast votes for election

More than 45-thousand polling stations around Iran opened on Friday morning.

Khamenei, who has the final say in all state matters, urged Iranians to vote early and in a peaceful manner.

As Iranians voted on whether to keep hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power for four more years, Iranian leaders also cast their votes early on Friday.

In keeping with tradition, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei placed his ballot just minutes after the polls opened.

Khamenei, who has the final say in all state matters, urged Iranians to vote early and in a peaceful manner.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, said, "Any tension will harm people and it will harm their votes. If there are some who want to create this tension, do not let them."