Conservative drops out of Iran election to back hard-liner

Iranian voters are set to cast ballot in the country’s presidential election on Friday.

So far in public Khamenei has called only for a high turnout, saying Iran’s enemies have sought to use the elections to “infiltrate” its power structure, and a high turnout would prove the system’s legitimacy.

“Traditionally, a president always runs for the second election in Iran, exception for Abolhassan Banisadr, but nobody was put under such pressure before, as Rouhani”, Lana Ravandi-Fadai drew attention.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, another Iranian cleric and moderate politician, was elected president of Iran by an overwhelming margin shortly thereafter and was in the office from 1989 to 1997. Ghalibaf is the mayor of Tehran, the former commander of the Revolutionary Guard, and the former head of the Iranian police. “But some of Galibaf’s votes will go to Rouhani’, as moderate conservatives will vote for him”, she explained. On Friday, Rouhani accused his hardline clerical foes of being power-hungry pawns of Iran’s security forces.

Popular expectations are that Rouhani, Ghalibaf and Raeisi are to be the electoral leaders in a race that is going to reflect both the political and economic outcomes of the post-nuclear deal Iran.

This footage was shared by one of Rouhani’s supporters.

Earlier in the day, Rouhani’s camp received another major boost after the former reformist president, Mohammad Khatamai, issued a video message urging the electorate to “once again” make him president. Ghalibaf is leading “the 96 per cent movement”, a campaign concept he has developed in opposition to the perceived top 4 per cent wealthiest in the society. Rouhani has a platform that includes expanding social and political freedoms, but his achievements in this area are mixed.

Karoubi asked all Iranians to take part in the election and to protect the democratic process by choosing their preferred candidate, but said: “I will vote for Rouhani”. The change of tone, some experts say, is reminiscent of Rouhani’s 2013 presidential campaign strategy. U.S. President Donald Trump has left the nuclear deal in place, despite campaign vows to scrap it, but has also ratcheted up rhetoric against Iran and moved to restore ties with Iran’s main rival, Saudi Arabia, which President Obama was content to let sag.

In the public’s eye, Rouhani clearly outshines other candidates as de facto guardian of the global agreement and relations with the West.

According to the survey, more than 71% of voters intend to vote. “Who finances them?” said Mr Rouhani at another point.

However, the IRGC is now also heavily involved in the Iranian economy and is known to have ownership of various companies and state enterprises in fields such as construction, telecom, mining and so on.

Hard-liner Ebrahim Raisi will gain votes from Qalibaf’s endorsement, but it may not be enough to defeat Rouhani. For example, after a recent coal mine blast which killed 42 workers, miners attacked Rouhani’s auto when he visited the site.

His second term, which ended in August 2013, was featured with a confrontation with the Khamenei and the parliament. It is not excluded that he will refuse to continue the struggle in favor of Rouhani. But there is even more at stake.