Voters cast the first votes in Iran's pivotal election this morning as the country's supreme leader urged the public to turn out at the polls.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei advised the nation "to cast their votes early" and "choose their candidates wisely" as voting began for the parliamentary and Assembly of Experts election.

The contest will pits supporters of Rouhani, who championed lastyear's nuclear deal with world powers, against conservative opponents who are reportedly deeply opposed to detente with Western powers.