On June 18th, Iranians have been called to vote for the presidential elections, choosing the hardliner Ebrahim Raisi as their next president. Raisi – Iran’s current judiciary chief – has won with nearly 62% of votes. The ballots experienced the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history, with less than 49% electoral participation. The ensuing president will face several issues, starting with a difficult economic situation, a stunted vaccination campaign and a problematic foreign policy centred on reviving the 2015 nuclear accord. Since April, JCPOA’s signatory countries have been meeting in Vienna to find a way to restore the deal’s compliance. Nonetheless, Raisi’s elections could complicate the restoration of the agreement and Iranian relations with the US. How will Raisi’s appointment as the new president affect Tehran’s domestic stability and regional policy? What are the implications for the nuclear deal?
Panel Discussion
Vali Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies, SAIS, Johns Hopkins University; Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
Rouzbeh Parsi, Head, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Swedish Institute of International Affairs
Azadeh Zamirirad, Iran Researcher and Deputy Head, Africa and Middle East Division, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
Chair
Sara Bazoobandi, Associate Research Fellow, Middle East and North Africa, ISPI; Marie Curie Fellow, GIGA Institute for Middle East Studies