According to state media reports, hardliner Ebrahim Raisi is on the verge of victory in Iran's presidential election.
The Interior Ministry did not yet confirm the reports on Saturday.
His moderate competitor, the economic technocrat Abdolnasser Hemmati, admitted his defeat before the results were announced and congratulated the 60-year-old Minister of Justice on his election victory.
The news agency YJC reported on Saturday.
He hoped that Raisi's government, led by the spiritual and political leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would bring prosperity to Iran, the state media quoted in a letter from Hemmatis to his opponent.
According to the Interior Ministry, however, the vote count was still ongoing.
Hemmati had hardly been given a chance.
After all promising candidates had been excluded, Raisi's election was considered almost certain.
The clergyman sees himself as a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed, in the Shiite clergy he holds the second highest rank of Hodschatoleslam.
As a politician, the ultra-conservative presents himself as a “relentless” fighter against poverty and corruption.
The previous president, the moderate pragmatist Hassan Rohani, was no longer allowed to run in Friday's election after two consecutive terms in office.
He, too, has already spoken of the winner without naming him.
“I congratulate the people on their election,” said Rohani.
"My official congratulations will come later, but we know who got enough votes in this election and who was elected by the people today."
According to earlier government statements, the handover is scheduled for August 3rd.