The Middle East’s stability is paramount to global order, and Saudi Arabia plays a crucial role as an anchor. This article argues for a formal US-Saudi security alliance to counter destabilizing forces like Iran and the Houthis, and highlights the shared interests and reforms underway in Saudi Arabia that make it a valuable ally.
Iran will hold a runoff election on July 5th between reformist candidate Massoud Pezeshkian and hardliner Saeed Jalili, after no candidate secured a majority in the initial vote. Pezeshkian, who emerged as the most popular candidate, has expressed support for the rights of minorities, women, and border areas. The low voter turnout of 39.9% highlights the challenges facing the Iranian regime.
Massoud Pezeshkian, a moderate reformist candidate, is leading in the Iranian presidential election, according to state-run media. The preliminary results show him with nearly 400,000 votes ahead of his closest rival, Saeed Jalili. The election took place on Friday following the death of the previous president, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash last month. Pezeshkian is the sole moderate candidate among six contenders, with the remaining five being hardliners. His victory could signal a shift towards a more moderate approach to governance, particularly in areas concerning minorities and women’s rights.
Iranians are casting ballots in a snap presidential election to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May. The race is described as a three-way contest between two hard-liners and a reformist candidate. Voters are expressing their views on the election, while the supreme leader calls for a high turnout. The election takes place amidst political tensions and the supreme leader’s ultimate authority in Iran’s Islamic Republic.
Iran’s upcoming presidential election on June 28th sees a diverse range of candidates, each with distinct approaches to foreign policy. From staunch hardliners advocating for resistance against the West to reformists seeking renewed diplomacy, the candidates’ stances offer a glimpse into potential shifts in Iran’s international relations.
An Iraqi fighter from an Iran-backed group was killed in an overnight airstrike in eastern Syria near the Iraq border. The strike occurred in Deir Ezzor province, a region where Iran holds significant influence and is frequently targeted by Israel and the United States. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the strike targeted a vehicle during a reconnaissance patrol on the Iraqi-Syrian border, while the US-led military coalition denied responsibility for the attack. This incident adds to the escalating tensions between Iran and its allies in the region and the United States and Israel.
Iran and Sweden have agreed to a prisoner swap, freeing Hamid Nouri, who Sweden convicted of war crimes related to mass executions in Iran. In exchange, Iran has released Johan Floderus, a Swedish national working for the European Union, and Saeed Azizi. Oman served as a mediator in facilitating the swap, which saw Nouri return to Tehran and the Swedish citizens fly home.
Iran’s Guardian Council has approved the candidacies of six individuals for the upcoming presidential election scheduled to take place on June 28. The election will see the participation of hardline parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Despite promises of economic improvement, the country’s political and economic decisions ultimately rest with the Supreme Leader, Ali Hosseini Khamenei. Notably, former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s nomination has been barred by the Guardian Council. This election marks the second time an Iranian president has died in office following the assassination of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
Following a helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others, Iran’s Guardian Council has approved six candidates, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, for the June 28 presidential election. Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was once again barred from running. The election campaign will be a condensed two-week period, with candidates set to participate in televised debates and public speeches. The council’s selection suggests Iran’s leadership aims to ensure a smooth electoral process amidst low voter turnout and tensions over the nuclear program and regional conflicts.
In Iran, a trial has commenced against Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi in her absence. Imprisoned since 2021 for opposing the hijab law and capital punishment, Mohammadi faces charges of spreading anti-state propaganda related to her comments on journalist Dina Ghalibaf and the election boycott. The trial comes amid heightened enforcement of Iran’s Islamic dress code for women and increased surveillance following nationwide protests triggered by Mahsa Amini’s death.
