Iran: Challenges for president elect Ebrahim Raisi

Presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi speaks throughout a marketing campaign rally in Tehran, Iran June 15, 2021. (Reuters)

By NK BHATIA

As anticipated, extremely conservative Ebrahim Raisi is to be the brand new President of Iran after securing round 17.8 million votes the place solely 48% of over 54 million voters exercised their franchise. President elect Ebrahim Raisi, is the present head of Judiciary who dons a black turban, thereby indicating that he’s a descendant of Prophet Mohammed and a Sayyid.

The election of Raisi was a foregone conclusion after he had been shortlisted amongst a gaggle of seven candidates to face for the election after their candidature was vetted by the 12 member Guardian Council that’s required to determine suitability of candidates to constitutional positions according to Iran’s theological ideology. Curiously, Raisi as head of Judiciary oversees the working of Guardian Council and nominates six members to the council.

Coming from a judicial background, he has been a prosecutor for the Islamic regime. His predominant declare to fame is his function because the lead prosecutor in trial of political opponents of the Islamic regime that occurred throughout 1988, resulting in mass elimination of political prisoners not aligned to Iran’s Shiite regime. Thereafter he has continued to serve in varied judicial appointments, prominently as Tehran’s prosecutor, head of the Normal Inspection Group, prosecutor basic of the Particular Courtroom of the Clergy, and a deputy chief justice.

Since 2016, Raisi has been main Astan Quds Razavi Basis,which runs the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, a serious Shiite pilgrimage website. The Basis wields enormous political and financial significance on account of management over its charitable actions and holding of giant properties and companies, unfold throughout a wide selection of a number of property together with agriculture to development.

Raisi has additionally held the place of vice chairman of Iran’s Meeting of Specialists, a key establishment, chargeable for selecting the following supreme chief after 82-year-old Khamenei. Ebrahim Raisi has been near Iran’s highly effective clergy, most prominently to Iran’s supreme chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He enjoys his belief and was due to this fact promoted over different candidates. There are sturdy rumours that he’ll don the mantle of Supreme Chief after Ayatollah Ali Khameni.

Since 2019 as head of Iran’s judiciary in 2019, Raisi has been projected as a crusader in opposition to corruption. The place has allowed him to consolidate his maintain over the clergy and within the course of remove a great variety of political opponents- the alibi of corruption being a simple technique to eliminate anybody not in sync with ideological or political pondering of the Islamic regime.

Raisi is thought to be a powerful advocate of a resilient and powerful financial system to be constructed round state establishments supported by the Islamic regime. He sees a stronger function for Iranian Revolutionary Guard and different such state our bodies to strengthen Iranian financial system and develop into self-sufficient. That is vital within the backdrop of US led sanctions which have virtually crippled Iranian financial system with vast ranging impression on inhabitants resulting in discontent and vast ranging protests up to now.

Election of Raisi is unlikely to have any main impression on the continued talks on the nuclear deal for the reason that talks are being guided by Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Though personally against the 2015 Nuclear deal, Raisi has little possibility however to go forward with the negotiations at the moment ongoing in Vienna, which have been ongoing for some time and are reportedly in a decisive stage. Reaching an settlement is due to this fact within the pursuits of Iran the place the financial state of affairs has worsened over the previous few years.

The decision of the nuclear deal can be necessary from the attitude of regional peace and safety within the Center East and Gulf area. An settlement between the USA and Iran on nuclear deal is sure to provide an impetus to negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, so very important for stability within the area.

President elect is reportedly in favour of improved relations with its neighbours together with China. How these relations form up publish withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, with whom Iran shares a protracted and customary border and has substantial stake can be extraordinarily necessary from the perspective of stability within the area.

Past the worldwide relations it’s the home state of affairs that can name for his instant consideration.

Election of Ebrahim Raisi pays put to the ambitions and hopes of all moderates and is more likely to push its majority younger inhabitants into isolation and away from international aspirations. The hopes of youth would positively be shattered with the rising maintain of conservatives. How the brand new regime tackles its isolation from the worldwide group and imbibes confidence amongst the youth can be necessary and fascinating.

The financial woes on account of sanctions have led to Iran’s isolation from the worldwide monetary system. This has led to break down of its forex and widespread unemployment. Inflation is crippling and absence of meals and day by day wants is widespread. The impression of corona pandemic has been huge and there may be acute scarcity of medicine and medical care. These would wish instant consideration of the brand new regime.

The election of Ebrahim Raisi signifies consolidation of the maintain of conservatives over Iranian polity and a blow to the moderates, who have been attempting to interrupt freed from them. It will be fascinating to see how they form the future of an aspiring nation within the days forward.

(The creator is an Indian Military Veteran. Views expressed are private and don’t replicate the official place or coverage of Monetary Categorical On-line.)