The date has already been set
Iran announces presidential elections after Raisi’s death
May 20, 2024, 8:56 p.m
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The Iranian president and foreign minister die in a helicopter crash. The Islamic Republic may find an interim solution, but there is no way around prompt elections.
After the death of Iranian head of state Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, a new president will be elected in the country on June 28th. State television reported that this date, proposed by the Guardian Council, was set at a meeting of the heads of government, parliament and the judiciary. Raisi died in a helicopter crash in the northwest of the country on Sunday.
The imminent election date is given by the Iranian constitution. A presidential election must be scheduled within 50 days of the end of office. The late Raisi is currently being represented on an interim basis by Mohammed Mochber, appointed by the country’s supreme spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The current deputy head of department, Ali Bagheri Kani, became the acting foreign minister, as Irna reported. Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian also died in the crash.
A funeral procession will take place in Tehran on Wednesday for Raisi and the members of his delegation who died in the accident, as Vice President Mohsen Mansuri announced on state television. Five days of national mourning were declared in the country.
However, Khamenei holds the highest power in Iran. He has held this office since 1989 and has the final say on all important matters – such as foreign policy and the Iranian nuclear program. Khamenei sought calm and said there would be no disruption to government business.
Experts do not expect Tehran to change course
Experts therefore do not expect a new president to change course in the Islamic Republic. “In foreign policy, the spiritual leader and the Revolutionary Guards will keep the strategic decisions in their hands,” writes Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group in the online service Relationship with the USA.
Iran expert Farid Vahid from the French think tank Fondation Jean Jaurès points out that Raisi gave the Revolutionary Guards a lot of freedom with his policies. With Raisi as president, the decision-making was very smooth because he was completely in line with Khamenei. “It’s now important for the Iranian conservatives to find someone who will be elected – and who won’t cause them too many problems.”
Raisi’s death comes at an inopportune time
However, Raisi’s death comes at a time of growing popular dissatisfaction with the leadership in Tehran and amid a political, social and economic crisis. Internationally, the leadership is under pressure because it is deepening military relations with Russia during its war against Ukraine – for example, Iran is supplying Shahed drones to the Russian military, from which the Ukrainian civilian population is suffering. Iran also supports Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has been waging a bitter war against the Israeli military since its October 7 attack.
Raisi has been President of the Islamic Republic since 2021 and succeeded Hassan Rouhani, who was considered pragmatic. The cleric previously held the post of head of justice and was subject to sanctions by the USA for serious human rights crimes. Raisi ordered the bloody crackdown on nationwide protests following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody a year and a half ago. He himself had ordered the moral laws to be tightened. He also stood for a tough stance in international negotiations over Iran’s controversial nuclear program.