Iran begins voting in a presidential election tipped in favour of a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei casts his ballot on June 18, 2021, on the day of the Islamic republic's presidential election.
Former Central Bank chief, Abdolnasser Hemmati, is running as the race’s moderate candidate but hasn’t inspired the same support as outgoing President Hassan Rouhani, who is term-limited from seeking the office again. Tensions remain high with both the US and Israel, which is believed to have carried out a series of attacks targeting Iranian nuclear sites and assassinating the scientist who created its military atomic program decades earlier.
Fears about a low turnout have some warning Iran may be turning away from being an Islamic Republic — a government with elected civilian leadership overseen by a supreme leader from its Shiite clergy — to a country more tightly governed by its supreme leader. As supreme leader, Khamenei has final say on all matters of state and oversees its defense and atomic program.
“If we do not vote: Sanctions will be heavier, the U.S. and Israel will be encouraged to attack Iran,” the leaflet warned. “Iran will be under shadow of a Syrian-style civil war and the ground will be ready for assassination of scientists and important figures.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Exclusive: Iran hard-liner Raisi to win election at pivotal Middle East moment, poll shows'All indications suggest that [Ebrahim] Raisi will become Iran's next president,' IranPoll CEO Amir Farmanesh said in a statement shared alongside exclusive data sent to Newsweek. 'Contrary to what some believe, his election is unlikely to significantly change the course of Iran's foreign policy.'
Read more »
Iran election set to hand presidency to hardline judgeIranians began voting on Friday in a presidential election likely to be won by a judge fiercely loyal to the religious establishment, although many people are expected to ignore the vote due to discontent with economic hardship and hardline rule.
Read more »
Will the new Israeli government soften its stance on Iran?The newly elected Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is likely to part ways with his predecessor's harsh Iran policy and align his administration with Washington's less confrontational approach.
Read more »