Second Candidate Exits Iran's Presidential Race

Alireza Zakani has announced his withdrawal from Iran's presidential race one day before the election. 

On Thursday, Zakani announced his decision on X, emphasizing the importance of continuing the path of late President Raisi and suggesting a strategic move to consolidate support for conservative candidates.

"I stayed until the end of the legal time of the competition, but the continuation of the path of martyred Raisi is more important," Zakani wrote. 

He further called on fellow candidates Saeed Jalili and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to unite, urging them to "not leave the revolutionary forces' rightful demands unanswered and prevent the formation of Rouhani's third government."

His withdrawal follows Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, another fundamentalist candidate, who stepped down from the race on Wednesday. 

The only reformist candidate, Masoud Pezeshkian, a surgeon associated with former President Hassan Rouhani's administration, rounds out the top contenders.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has called for "maximum" turnout in Friday's polls while issuing a veiled warning to Pezeshkian and his allies about relying on the United States.