Former US President Donald Trump has won the Iowa caucuses. This is the first vote in the nationwide contest to choose the Republican Party's candidate for this year's presidential election.

Trump spoke to his supporters, asking them to vote. He said, "This is the beginning of something very important. I think it's the most important election in the history of our country."

In the US presidential election, the Democratic and Republican parties hold caucuses and primaries in states across the country to select their presidential candidates for the November vote.

The opening contest in the Midwestern state of Iowa is said to have huge implications for the overall race.

Former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are among the other Republican candidates.

Trump is facing indictments in four separate cases as he tries to reclaim the White House. There have also been legal attempts in some states to strip him of his eligibility to join the primaries.

Despite that, polls done before the Iowa caucuses showed Trump enjoying a comfortable lead over other Republican hopefuls.

The party is set to hold a primary race in New Hampshire next week.