Hassan Rohani, the lone reformist candidate in Iran’s presidential election, took a significant lead in preliminary election returns today, according to the country’s Interior Ministry.

Rohani, 64, led with about 46 percent of 1.8 million ballots counted so far, followed by Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf with 18 percent, according to ministry figures. Nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili had 14 percent. s