Ebrahim Raisi won the presidential election in Iran. The top candidate of the hardliners received at least 17.8 million votes, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry announced on Saturday morning. A total of 28.6 million votes were cast. Raisi will succeed Hassan Ruhani, who was no longer allowed to run for election after two terms in office. The swearing-in of the new president is planned for August.
The 60-year-old justice chief Raisi failed four years ago because of Ruhani, this time his way to the presidential office was much easier. This also led to violent protests in their own ranks – and to great disinterest on the part of the people in an election that was widely perceived as being staged and undemocratic.
Even more hostile to Israel
With Raisi, the media and observers expect a change of political power in the country. They are convinced that the arch-conservative cleric will not continue Ruhani’s moderate course as president. As a long-time public prosecutor, judge and head of justice since 2019, he has little political experience. Nevertheless, he faces many political challenges right from the start of his term in office.
Above all, he has to decide on the future of the Vienna nuclear agreement of 2015. After the US withdrew from the international agreement in 2018, Tehran gradually lifted the agreed restrictions and controls on nuclear facilities. Not least the US sanctions caused a severe economic crisis in Iran. Negotiations with the archenemy USA would be necessary for the agreement to continue. In Middle East politics, observers under Raisi expect a more radical course, and in relation to Israel an even more hostile one than before. (cat / SDA)
Published: 06/19/2021, 10:03 am
Last updated: 19.06.2021, 21 minutes ago