Iran Votes for New President Today Following Ebrahim Raisi's Death

Tehran: Iranians are preparing to vote for a new president on Friday following the tragic death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. The election features a carefully curated slate of four candidates aligned with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, amid widespread public frustration.

While the election's outcome is not expected to drastically alter Iran's policies, it holds potential implications for the succession planning of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has led the Islamic Republic for over three decades.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has emphasized the need for a "maximum" turnout to address a legitimacy crisis exacerbated by public discontent over economic hardships and restrictions on political and social freedoms.

Voter turnout has significantly declined over the past four years, particularly among the youthful population disenchanted with political and social constraints.

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Polling stations open at 8:00 am local time (0430 GMT) and close at 6:00 pm (1430 GMT), with possible extensions until midnight. The manual counting process means final results may take up to two days to announce, though preliminary figures could be available sooner.

If no candidate secures over 50 percent of the vote, a runoff between the top two candidates will occur on the first Friday after the initial results are declared.

Among the candidates, three are hardliners and one represents a relatively moderate stance, supported by the reformist faction that has seen diminished influence in recent Iranian politics.

Critics argue that the declining voter turnout in recent elections reflects eroding legitimacy of Iran's clerical establishment. In 2021, only 48% of eligible voters participated in the election that brought Ebrahim Raisi to power, with turnout hitting a record low of 41% in a parliamentary election three months ago.

The current election takes place against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, including conflicts involving Iranian allies like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as increased international pressure over Iran's nuclear program.

The incoming president is unlikely to significantly alter Iran's nuclear policies or its support for regional militias, as these decisions fall under the purview of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, the president does wield influence over day-to-day governance and can shape Iran's domestic and foreign policies.

Candidates undergo scrutiny by a hardline vetting body consisting of six clerics and six jurists aligned with Khamenei, which approved just six candidates from an initial pool of 80, with two hardliners withdrawing subsequently.

Key contenders include Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, parliament speaker and former Revolutionary Guards commander, and Saeed Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator who served in Khamenei's office.

The sole moderate candidate, Massoud Pezeshkian, supports Iran's theocratic system but advocates for rapprochement with the West, economic reforms, social liberalization, and political pluralism.

Pezeshkian's chances hinge on energizing reform-minded voters who have abstained from recent elections due to perceived ineffectiveness of past pragmatist presidents. He could benefit from divisions among hardline voters.

All candidates pledge to revive Iran's struggling economy, grappling with mismanagement, corruption, and sanctions reimposed since 2018 following the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement.

On social media, the hashtag #ElectionCircus has gained traction among Iranians critical of the electoral process, with some activists advocating for a boycott to protest against what they view as legitimizing the Islamic Republic.

This election represents a pivotal moment for Iran's political trajectory and its relations with the international community, amid internal challenges and external pressures.

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