Iranians Begin Voting in Runoff Election to Replace Late President Ebrahim Raisi

Iranians began voting in a runoff election to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash last month. The two candidates in the runoff are hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist heart surgeon and long-time parliament member.

The initial round of voting on June 28 did not see any candidate receive over 50% of the vote, leading to the necessity of a runoff election. This election is crucial as it will determine the future direction of Iran, with tensions in the Middle East continuing to escalate.

There have been calls for a boycott of the election, with imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi urging people not to participate. However, the low turnout in the initial round indicates a general sense of apathy among the Iranian population.

The election is taking place against the backdrop of high tensions in the Middle East, with conflicts in Gaza and Iran’s nuclear activities being major factors. The outcome of the election will have implications for Iran’s stance on international relations and its domestic policies.

Overall, the runoff election is being closely watched both within Iran and internationally, as it will shape the country’s future trajectory.