Following a day of mass voter turnout in Iran, the votes have been counted and cleric Hasan Rowhani has been declared the winner of Iran's presidential election.

Rowhani has been described as the most 'reform-minded' candidate.

Rowhani's widespread support allowed him to avoid a two-person runoff and a second round of voting next week.

Rowhani won with 50.7 percent of the more than 36 million votes cast, the Interior Ministry reported.

Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf had about 16.5 percent and nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili came in third with 11.3 percent followed by conservative Mohsen Rezaei with 10.6 percent.

Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said the turnout was 72.7 percent.

Former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could not legally run for another turn and will now be stepping down.

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