Ebrahim Raisi Elected New President of Iran

The moderate candidate in Iran's presidential election has conceded loss in the country's presidential race to the country's hard-line judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi.

Former Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati wrote on Instagram to judiciary chief Raisi early on Saturday.

"I hope your administration provides causes for pride for the Islamic Republic of Iran, improves the economy and life with comfort and welfare for the great nation of Iran."

According to preliminary vote count, Raisi won 62 percent or 17.8 million votes, to Rezaei's 3.3 million and Hemmati's 2.4 million, said Jamal Orf, the head of Iran's Interior Ministry election headquarters.

The fourth candidate, Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi received around one million votes, Orf said.

The official said more than 28 million Iranians out of 59 million eligible voters had cast ballots.

The initial results announced also appeared to show the race had the country's lowest turnout of any vote since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. However, the vote had no international observers to monitor the election in line with past years.

Vote count was still underway, but reports suggest Raeisi could be winning by a big margin.

Iran's moderate President Hassan Rouhani announced his successor had been elected, but did not name the widely expected victor.

"I congratulate the people on their choice," said Rouhani after Friday's vote as other candidates also congratulated Raisi. "My official congratulations will come later, but we know who got enough votes in this election and who is elected today by the people."

Raisi did not immediately acknowledge Hemmati's concession, nor that of former Revolutionary Guard commander Mohsen Rezaei, who also conceded the loss.

Mohsen Rezaei's concession in a post on Twitter came as Iran's outgoing President Hassan Rouhani also acknowledged the winner in the country's vote Friday was "clear," though he didn't immediately name judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi. 

On Twitter, Rezaei praised Khamenei and the Iranian people for taking part in the vote.

"God willing, the decisive election of my esteemed brother, Ayatollah Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, promises the establishment of a strong and popular government to solve the country's problems," Rezaei wrote.

The election on Friday was dominated by Raisi, a protégé of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after the disqualification of the strongest competitors who could have challenged him in the vote. 

As night fell Friday, turnout appeared far lower than in Iran’s last presidential election in 2017. 

United States seen as a bigger threat to democracy than Russia or China

The United States faces an uphill task presenting itself as the chief guardian of global democracy. A recent poll shows that around the world people consider it a bigger threat to democracy as compared to Russia and China.

The findings come in a poll commissioned by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation among 50,000 respondents in 53 countries.

The survey was carried out by the Latana polling company between February and April. Therefore, hangover effect of Donald Trump’s ‘America first’ foreign policy may linger in the findings.

In perhaps the most startling finding, nearly half (44%) of respondents in the 53 countries surveyed are concerned that the US threatens democracy in their country; fear of Chinese influence is by contrast 38%, and fear of Russian influence is lowest at 28%.

The findings may in part reflect views on US comparative power, but they show neither the US, nor the G7, can simply assume the mantle of defenders of democracy.

Since last year, the perception of US influence as a threat to democracy around the world has increased significantly. This increase is particularly high in Germany and China.

The countries still overwhelmingly negative about US influence are Russia and China, followed by European democracies.

Around 81% of people around the world say it is important to have democracy in their country. Only a little more than half (53%) say their country is actually democratic today – even in democracies.

In almost every country surveyed save Saudi Arabia and Egypt limits to free speech are seen as less of a threat to democracy than inequality.

Half of the people surveyed (48%) say the power of big tech companies, as opposed to the simple existence of social media, is a threat to democracy in their country.

Among democracies, the US is the most concerned about big tech (62%), but wariness is growing in many countries compared with last year, reflected in broad support for greater regulation of social media.

Voters in Norway, Switzerland and Sweden are most confident their country is democratic, but so are the Chinese, where 71% agree that China has the right amount of democracy. In Russia only 33% think their country is democratic.

The findings will also make disturbing reading for the eastern European democracies such as Hungary where only 31% of voters think their country is democratic – on a par with findings in Nigeria, Iran, Poland and Venezuela.

This poll shows that democracy is still alive in people’s hearts and minds. They want to see their countries become more democratic.

The positive support for an Alliance of Democracies, whether the UK’s D10 initiative or President Biden’s Summit for Democracy, shows that people want more cooperation to push back against the autocrats.

Iranians casting votes to elect new president

Iranian Presidential election being held on 18th June 2021, highlight a transition of society. Whatever may be the outcome the hostility between United States and Iran must be ended. While older generation may still be with hardliners, the younger generation ‑ born and grown under economic sanctions ‑ wants a change. It would be good if the process of easing begins now or the rebel groups may start seeking foreign help.

Nearly 60 million eligible voters in Iran will decide the fate of four candidates to succeed President Hassan Rouhani. Iranians voted in a presidential election on Friday amid concerns over a low turnout with the conservative head of the judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, widely seen as the front-runner.

“If elected, Raisi will be the first Iranian president in recent memory to have not only been sanctioned before he has taken office, but potentially sanctioned while being in office,” said analyst Jason Brodsky.

Raisi – who like his political patron the supreme leader is an implacable critic of the West – is under US sanctions for alleged involvement in executions of political prisoners decades ago.

With uncertainty surrounding Iran’s efforts to revive its 2015 nuclear deal and growing poverty at home after years of United States sanctions, the turnout for the voters is being portrayed by some analysts as a referendum on the current leadership’s handling of an array of crises. Voter enthusiasm was dampened by the disqualification of many candidates and the deep economic malaise

Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Tehran, said there is lot of support behind Raisi. “The general public has one thing on their mind that they want some change from the moderate and reformist government they have seen over the past eight years,” she said.

“There is a sense that the economic situation in the country is not going to change any time soon. So they are hoping Raisi will bring some kind of change.”

Iranian opposition groups abroad and some dissidents at home have urged a boycott of the vote they see as an engineered victory for Raisi.

A win for Raisi would confirm the political demise of pragmatist politicians such as Rouhani, weakened by the US decision to quit the nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions in a move that stifled rapprochement with the West.

But it would not disrupt Iran’s bid to revive the agreement and break free of tough oil and financial sanctions, Iranian officials say, with the country’s ruling elite aware their political fortunes rely on tackling worsening economic hardship.

Tensions remain high with both the United States and Israel, which is believed to have carried out a series of attacks targeting Iranian nuclear sites and assassinating the scientist who created its military atomic program decades earlier.

United States entrusts Kabul airport security to Turkey

According to Jake Sullivan, US National Security Adviser, President Joe Biden and President Tayyip Erdogan have agreed to assign Turkey a lead role in maintaining security of Kabul airport after the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

It is suspected that since Pakistan is not ready to provide any airbase to United States, a cover up is being created for the use of Kabul airport for the US planes/drones. This may offend those Afghans who enjoy cordial relationship with Islamabad and want the United States to end its occupation of Afghanistan at the earliest.

While the two leaders were prompt in agreeing to a new role for Turkey, they were not able to resolve the long-standing issue of Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 defence systems, Sullivan said, a bitter dispute that strained ties between the Nato allies. He added that dialogue on the issue would continue.

“The clear commitment by the leaders established that Turkey would play a lead role in securing Hamid Karzai International Airport and the two countries are now working to work out the modalities.

The United States takes seriously the concern over the Taliban militia potentially attacking the international missions in Afgha­nistan, he said.

It seems Turkey has accepted the role to ease its relationship with the United States. Analysts are of the view that many of the acts/policies of Turkey are contradictory, which often fail in attaining the ultimate objective.

While Tayyip Erdogan is very vocal against Israel, he has not been able to do what a tiny country like Maldives did, suspending diplomatic relationship with Israel. This is likely to become a big thorn in Turkey-Taliban relationship.

It is no secret that Taliban enjoy good relations with Saudi Arabia, therefore, a proxy war may break out in Kabul. Saudi-Turkish relations have severed after the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Embassy in Turkey.

Time to hold election for Palestinian Authority

Since elections have been held in Syria, a new government has been installed in Israel and efforts for normalization of Israel’s relationship with Muslim countries is expected to continue, the stigma of cancellation of elections in the occupied territories, must be removed at the earliest.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had cancelled the first elections to be held in the occupied Palestinian territories since 2006, blaming Israel for not allowing the polls to include East Jerusalem.

Israel is unlikely to grant that permission because it annexed East Jerusalem after winning the 1967 war and views the city as its undivided capital. Allowing Palestinian elections in East Jerusalem would weaken its claim.

Israeli officials say that the delay could lead to renewed conflict with Hamas, considered terrorists by the Jewish state, the European Union and the United States.

The elections were due to take place in late-May but Abbas announced cancellation, which is viewed as an attempt to prolong his rule.

Infighting within Fatah has produced several popular rivals vying to replace the 85-year-old leader, viewed by the overwhelmingly young Palestinian population as corrupt and ineffective.

The decision has disappointed young Palestinians, who have been repeatedly denied a chance to choose a new leadership, and will be quietly welcomed by the US and Israel, which viewed the elections as a chance for Hamas to further consolidate power.

Hamas immediately termed the delay as a coup.  The group’s surprise victory in the 2006 elections led to months of conflict with Fatah — including a short-lived civil war that saw Hamas take control of the Gaza Strip, triggering an Israeli blockade that continues to this day.

The EU-backed elections had been designed to renew a democratic mandate for the increasingly authoritarian Abbas, who won a four-year term as president in 2005, in the hopes of positioning him for a round of peace talks being considered by the Biden administration.

Two non confidence moves filed against new Israeli government

Two separate non confidence moves have been filed against the new Israeli government headed by Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett. One was filed by Likud faction chairman Miki Zohar and another by Shas and United Torah Judaism.

The Likud wrote in its no-confidence motion, “The government was formed with lies and tricking the public, and has no mandate from the public.” The motion was filed by Likud faction chairman Miki Zohar and will be presented on Monday by MK Ofir Akunis.

A separate no-confidence motion, filed by Shas and United Torah Judaism, relates to matters of religion and state.

“For the first time in the history of Israel, a government was founded that sees Judaism as an obstacle, as superfluous and redundant weight that needs to be removed,” it said.

Zohar announced that there would be no pairing off of coalition and opposition MKs that enables MKs to miss votes in the Knesset.

“If you treat us disrespectfully, we will treat you disrespectfully,” Zohar told coalition MKs at a meeting of the Knesset Arrangements Committee on Wednesday.

The opposition also did not help the coalition pass the extension of an ordinance preventing family reunification of Palestinians and Israeli Arabs.

One can recall that instead of a gracious reception and an orderly transfer of power, Bennett was met with a malicious, preplanned verbal attack of chaos and venom directed at him and the new coalition.

The speech of outgoing Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu was antagonistic and aggressive. There was no sign of goodwill, no acknowledgment of stepping down, and no indication that he’s going to sit quietly in the opposition.

He declared not to leave politics. He expressed intention to remain opposition leader, head of the Likud and the party’s candidate for prime minister in the next election.

Netanyahu told his supporters they should keep their heads held high despite losing power. “We will continue to work together,” he said.

“I will lead you in a daily struggle against this dangerous left wing government to topple it, and with God’s help, it will happen much faster than you think.”

Netanyahu said, “Bennett always does the opposite of what he says.” The new government is unfit to lead the country for even a single day, he said.

Had Bennett told Israelis he would form a government with Lapid, he would not have gotten elected at all, Netanyahu said, calling him “Fake Right.”

Who is violating ceasefire? Hamas or Israel

Holding of ‘Flag March’ was the culmination of the statement reiterating the 'Greater Jerusalem' project, saying "Jerusalem must grow, become stronger and become a metropolis with satellite cities in order for its national and international status to be strengthened, so that its demographics change with an absolute Jewish majority."

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who had supported the Flag March, at the end, emerged critical of the participants who sang racist, violent songs. Lapid said, "It is incomprehensible how one can hold an Israeli flag in one's hand and shout 'death to Arabs' at the same time." He added, "This is not Judaism and not Israeli and it certainly is not what our flag symbolizes”.

Meretz MK Yair Golan, whose party is also a coalition partner, called outright for the march to be canceled.  “It’s not just the Flag March, there will be more nationalistic initiatives whose only goal is to create a war of Gog and Magog,” tweeted Golan. 

In the aftermath, Israel has launched an air strike against Gaza in a renewed clash sparked by the incendiary balloons that caused fires in South Israel. The Israeli army said on Wednesday local time that it attacked compounds belonging to the militant group Hamas. It added that it was “ready for all scenarios, including renewed fighting in the face of continued terrorist acts emanating from Gaza.

According to Reuters, the strikes came after the balloons were launched from Gaza, which reportedly caused 20 blazes in open fields in communities near the border. Prior to the balloons, thousands of Israelis had congregated around the Damascus Gate before heading to the Western Wall, angering Palestinians. The celebration was in honor of Israel’s capture of Jerusalem.

In response to the attacks, a spokesperson for Hamas told Reuters that Palestinians would continue to pursue “brave resistance and defend their rights and sacred sites” in Jerusalem.

One may recall the Flag March through the Old City of Jerusalem was called off earlier after Israel Police rejected the organizers' request that participants be allowed to march through the Old City's Damascus Gate. The march was viewed as a possible way to set off violence on the eve of the swearing in of a new government in the Knesset.

Religious Zionist MK Bezalel Smotrich called the decision a shameful surrender to terrorism and Hamas threats. His fellow party member, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said that he would still march the planned route. "I do not plan to give up," Ben-Gvir said.

Likud MK May Golan, who was heavily criticized for referring to Yamina and New Hope Party leaders Naftali Bennett and Gideon Sa'ar as suicide bombers due to their decision to form a government without Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said she would join Ben-Gvir in marching anyway.

The Sovereignty Movement released another statement after police announced the cancellation, saying "It is very unfortunate that we are folding under Hamas threats. The sovereignty of Jerusalem is violated and our dignity as a free people in our country and our capital is trampled."