Raisi Cleric Wins Iran’s Presidential Election

More than 59.3 million Iranians were eligible to vote. Voter turnout was initially unclear. However, the turnout was expected to be low.

Even before partial results were announced, my three main opponents congratulated the ultra-conservative chief of justice on his election victory. Rouhani also stated that his successor had been elected in the first ballot. However, the name of the winner of the election was not mentioned.

Sixty-year-old Chief Justice Raisi had failed four years ago because of Rouhani, but this time his path to the presidential office was much easier. Ballot box, check it out. This has also led to violent protests in their own ranks – and to a great lack of interest on the part of the people in an election that was widely seen as orderly and undemocratic.

With Raisi, the media and observers expect a change of political power in the country. They are convinced that the conservative cleric will not continue Rouhani’s moderate path as president. As a long-running attorney general, judge and chief justice since 2019, he has little political experience. However, he faced many political challenges even at the beginning of his tenure.

Above all, he has to decide the future of the 2015 Vienna nuclear agreement. After the United States withdrew from the international agreement in 2018, Tehran gradually lifted the agreed restrictions and controls on nuclear facilities. Not least, US sanctions have caused a severe economic crisis in Iran. Negotiations with the archenemy the United States will be necessary to agree to continue. In Middle East politics, observers under Raisi expect a more radical path, and with regard to Israel, a more aggressive path than before.