Ultraconservative cleric expected to win Iran’s presidential election

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Iran may be about to take an even harder stance against the West, as it is expected ultraconservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi will replace “moderate” President Hassan Rouhani in the country’s presidential election on June 18, the Times of Israel reports. After three of the seven candidates dropped out of the race on Wednesday, the election is widely viewed as a foregone conclusion in favor of Raisi, and a record low turnout is anticipated.

Raisi belongs to an ultraconservative clerical sect that is virulently critical of the US, describing America as the “Great Satan” or the “Global Arrogance.” He is the head of Iran’s judiciary and it has been suggested he may ultimately replace the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, TOI said.

In a televised speech, Khamenei himself told voters to go out and elect “a powerful president,” adding that “the Satanic power centers of the world” are trying to undermine the ballot.

However, although Raisi is considered far more extremely conservative than Rouhani, analysts have said Iran is likely to remain in the Vienna talks with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and, indirectly, with the US, about rejoining the 2015 Iran deal, TOI said. All of Iran’s presidential candidates have said it is important to have the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration lifted.

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