Shortly before the presidential election in Iran, the hardliner Amirhussein Ghazisadeh Hashemi has withdrawn his candidacy to support other conservative candidates. This decision, announced via the online platform X, aims to strengthen the conservative front in the upcoming election. Hashemi belongs to the Stability Front and is the chairman of the Foundation for Martyrs and Veterans.
The 2024 Iranian election is set to take place this Friday, with around 61 million voters called upon to choose a successor to President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in an accident. The Guardian Council has approved only six candidates for the election. The conservative camp is witnessing a power struggle between hardliner Said Jalili, former nuclear negotiator, and Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf. The only moderate candidate with a significant chance is former Health Minister Massoud Peseschkian.
Former President Hassan Rouhani has urged voters to support the moderate candidate, Massoud Peseschkian, describing him as capable of removing the shadows of sanctions and as a sincere and honest leader. Rouhani's call for support was echoed by former President Mohammed Khatami. However, some Iranians question Peseschkian's lack of government experience, as he has only served as Health Minister two decades ago.
Despite the election, experts believe no significant change in Iran's foreign policy or its pursuit of nuclear weapons is expected. Jason Brodsky, political director at United Against Nuclear Iran, stated that the president is more of an implementer than a decision-maker, implying that the fundamental policies of the Islamic Republic will remain unchanged.
Iran continues to face numerous challenges, including economic problems, social unrest, and international sanctions. The country has been a hotbed of unrest, particularly since the death of the young Kurdish woman Jina Masa Amini in 2022, which led to nationwide protests against the Islamic system of rule. Voter turnout in recent elections has been low, reflecting widespread disillusionment among the populace. The outcome of this election is being closely watched by the international community, given Iran's ongoing development of nuclear weapons.
- The withdrawal of Hashemi leaves five candidates in the presidential race. Observers expect the competition to narrow down to three main contenders: Said Jalili, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, and Massoud Peseschkian.
- An opinion poll conducted by the Research Center of the Shura Council showed Peseschkian leading the race with 23.5% of the votes, followed by Ghalibaf with 16.9% and Jalili with 16.3%. The poll also indicated that 45.7% of the participants would definitely vote, while 31.6% were hesitant, and 22.6% confirmed they would not participate.
- During his campaign, Peseschkian criticized the strict hijab policy and called for improving relations with Washington and Europe to lift economic sanctions. He expressed loyalty to the revolutionary guide, Ali Khamenei, and praised attacks on Israel as a manifestation of Iranian pride.
