Two Iranian political&nbsp;heavyweights, ultra-conservative Ebrahim&nbsp;Raisi&nbsp;and moderate conservative Ali&nbsp;Larijani, on Saturday, launched what may be the main battle in next month's&nbsp;presidential&nbsp;election.

Hopefuls have been registering ahead of June 18 polls to select a successor to moderate President Hassan Rouhani, who is constitutionally barred from running for a third consecutive term.

First to throw down the gauntlet on Saturday was&nbsp;Larijani, a long-time parliament speaker and now advisor to the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, submitting his name at the interior ministry early on the final day of registration.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-ex-president-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-submits-name-for-presidential-poll-384800">Iran: Ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad submits name for presidential poll</a>

Then it was the turn of judiciary chief and one-time&nbsp;presidential&nbsp;hopeful&nbsp;Raisi, who was Rouhani's leading rival in 2017 elections, to announce his own candidacy.

While several other hopefuls have thrown their hats into the ring, "the main clash will be&nbsp;between&nbsp;Mr.&nbsp;Raisi&nbsp;and Mr.&nbsp;Larijani," Masoud Bastani, a Tehran-based journalist told AFP.

"The first represents the ultraconservative faction and part of traditional conservatives ... and the second the traditional conservatives and moderates, and by proxy, reformists," he added.

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Since registration to run in the election began Tuesday, more than 300 hopefuls have submitted bids to stand, according to the interior ministry.

Others who registered on Saturday included secretary of the Expediency Council and ex-commander of Revolutionary Guards General Mohsen Rezai,&nbsp;Iran's ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, and Rouhani's first vice president Eshaq Jahangiri.

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All the hopefuls will be vetted by the conservative-dominated Guardian Council, who will publish a list of approved candidates by May 27, after which campaigning begins.

'A rival to corruption'

Larijani&nbsp;threw the first jab at&nbsp;Raisi&nbsp;and at several other candidates with military backgrounds, in a press conference after registering.

"The economy is neither a garrison nor a court that would be managed with shouts and orders," he told reporters.

He said he had put his name into the race because he felt that other&nbsp;presidential&nbsp;hopefuls were not capable of solving the country's "main problem" -- the sanctions-hit economy.

Larijani&nbsp;is a supporter of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which had offered&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;relief from sanctions in return for limitations on its nuclear activities.

The deal has been on life-support since former US president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from it in 2018, and reimposed punishing sanctions on Tehran.

Larijani&nbsp;also accused anyone "promising paradise" of "speaking falsely".

Raisi, in comments seemingly aimed at Rouhani's camp and allies like&nbsp;Larijani, said those responsible for&nbsp;Iran's "current situation cannot be those who change the current situation".

He told journalists he was "a rival to corruption, inefficiency and aristocracy" and urged "even those who feel hopeless" to vote.

In a statement,&nbsp;Raisi&nbsp;also said he came forward because of "public demand," and aims to run "independently in order to bring about a change in the executive management of the country".

'Smart relations'

Raisi&nbsp;was deputy prosecutor at the Revolutionary Court of Tehran during the 1980-88&nbsp;Iran-Iraq war that broke out shortly after the Islamic revolution.

Human rights organisations, exiled opposition members and dissidents have accused the tribunal of overseeing the execution of political prisoners without due legal process during his tenure.

Raisi&nbsp;was appointed by the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2019 to lead the judiciary, taking over from Sadegh Amoli&nbsp;Larijani, Ali's brother.

This is&nbsp;Larijani's second run for the presidency. He ran in 2005, which saw a surprise victory by the ultraconservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- who has also put his name in to run this year.&nbsp;

Seen today as a prominent establishment figure,&nbsp;Larijani&nbsp;was at the time in charge of&nbsp;Iran's nuclear negotiations with the West, a post he quit two years later over serious disagreements with Ahmadinejad.

He then went on to be parliament speaker from 2008 to 2020.

Larijani&nbsp;proved to be a key ally of Rouhani, elected in 2013 on a platform of ending&nbsp;Iran's international isolation by reaching a nuclear agreement -- something eventually signed two years later.

Larijani's candidacy comes as&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and world powers hold in talks in Vienna, seeking to revive the deal.

Voicing hope that the talks give&nbsp;Iran's economy "breathing space", he called for "smart relations with the West, strong and constructive relations with the East, and brotherly relations with our neighbours".

The nuclear accord has been a constant target of criticism by Rouhani's opponents, and its fate is expected to one of the major issues in the June poll.

Two Iranian political heavyweights, ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi and moderate conservative Ali Larijani, on Saturday, launched what may be the main battle in next month's presidential election.

Two Iranian political heavyweights, ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi and moderate conservative Ali Larijani, on Saturday, launched what may be the main battle in next month's presidential election. Hopefuls have been registering ahead of June 18 polls to select a successor to moderate President Hassan Rouhani, who is constitutionally barred from running for a third consecutive term. First to throw down the gauntlet on Saturday was Larijani, a long-time parliament speaker and now advisor to the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, submitting his name at the interior ministry early on the final day of registration. Also read | Iran: Ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad submits name for presidential poll Then it was the turn of judiciary chief and one-time presidential hopeful Raisi, who was Rouhani's leading rival in 2017 elections, to announce his own candidacy. While several other hopefuls have thrown their hats into the ring, "the main clash will be between Mr. Raisi and Mr. Larijani," Masoud Bastani, a Tehran-based journalist told AFP. "The first represents the ultraconservative faction and part of traditional conservatives ... and the second the traditional conservatives and moderates, and by proxy, reformists," he added. Also read | Iran foreign minister cancels meet with Austrian counterpart over Israel flag Since registration to run in the election began Tuesday, more than 300 hopefuls have submitted bids to stand, according to the interior ministry. Others who registered on Saturday included secretary of the Expediency Council and ex-commander of Revolutionary Guards General Mohsen Rezai, Iran's ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, and Rouhani's first vice president Eshaq Jahangiri. Also read | Joe Biden revokes Trump executive order against social media platforms All the hopefuls will be vetted by the conservative-dominated Guardian Council, who will publish a list of approved candidates by May 27, after which campaigning begins. 'A rival to corruption' Larijani threw the first jab at Raisi and at several other candidates with military backgrounds, in a press conference after registering. "The economy is neither a garrison nor a court that would be managed with shouts and orders," he told reporters. He said he had put his name into the race because he felt that other presidential hopefuls were not capable of solving the country's "main problem" -- the sanctions-hit economy. Larijani is a supporter of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which had offered Iran relief from sanctions in return for limitations on its nuclear activities. The deal has been on life-support since former US president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from it in 2018, and reimposed punishing sanctions on Tehran. Larijani also accused anyone "promising paradise" of "speaking falsely". Raisi, in comments seemingly aimed at Rouhani's camp and allies like Larijani, said those responsible for Iran's "current situation cannot be those who change the current situation". He told journalists he was "a rival to corruption, inefficiency and aristocracy" and urged "even those who feel hopeless" to vote. In a statement, Raisi also said he came forward because of "public demand," and aims to run "independently in order to bring about a change in the executive management of the country". 'Smart relations' Raisi was deputy prosecutor at the Revolutionary Court of Tehran during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war that broke out shortly after the Islamic revolution. Human rights organisations, exiled opposition members and dissidents have accused the tribunal of overseeing the execution of political prisoners without due legal process during his tenure. Raisi was appointed by the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2019 to lead the judiciary, taking over from Sadegh Amoli Larijani, Ali's brother. This is Larijani's second run for the presidency. He ran in 2005, which saw a surprise victory by the ultraconservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- who has also put his name in to run this year. Seen today as a prominent establishment figure, Larijani was at the time in charge of Iran's nuclear negotiations with the West, a post he quit two years later over serious disagreements with Ahmadinejad. He then went on to be parliament speaker from 2008 to 2020. Larijani proved to be a key ally of Rouhani, elected in 2013 on a platform of ending Iran's international isolation by reaching a nuclear agreement -- something eventually signed two years later. Larijani's candidacy comes as Iran and world powers hold in talks in Vienna, seeking to revive the deal. Voicing hope that the talks give Iran's economy "breathing space", he called for "smart relations with the West, strong and constructive relations with the East, and brotherly relations with our neighbours". The nuclear accord has been a constant target of criticism by Rouhani's opponents, and its fate is expected to one of the major issues in the June poll.

Iran set for presidential showdown between heavyweights Larijani, Raisi

West Asia analyst Meir Javedanfar from Tel Aviv says the biggest threat to Iran's internal stability is covid-19 or coronavirus currently.

Iran Elections: Hardliners set for win

Candidates affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards looked on course to win a parliamentary majority on Saturday, reportedly leading in the race in Tehran and across the country after a vote stacked in favour of loyalists to the supreme leader.

The Interior Ministry said a list of candidates affiliated with the Guards led in the capital. An unofficial tally by Reuters shows hardliners have so far won about 178 seats in the 290-seat parliament, independents 43 and moderates 17.

In some constituencies, where candidates failed to get 20% of votes cast on Friday, a run-off will be held in April.

A clean sweep for hardliners would confirm the political demise of the country's pragmatist politicians, weakened by Washington's decision to quit a 2015 nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions in a move that stifled rapprochement with the West.

However, Iranian authorities have yet to announce the turnout in the race for the 290-seat legislature - a test of the popularity of hardliners closely associated with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran's rulers, under intense U.S. pressure over the country's nuclear programme, need a high turnout to boost their legitimacy, damaged after nationwide protests in November.

Some unconfirmed reports suggested voter participation was about 45%, the lowest since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Khamenei on Friday said voting was "a religious duty".

Turnout was 62% in the 2016 parliamentary vote and 66% of people voted in 2012.

In Tehran, which accounts for 30 seats in parliament, the hardline candidates were headed by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, a former mayor of the capital who once commanded the Guards' air force.

Qalibaf’s chances of becoming parliament speaker hinge on gaining the trust of hardliners, who struggled for days to reach consensus on a single slate for Tehran.

Guardian council

Parliamentary elections have little impact on Iran's foreign or nuclear policies, which are set by Khamenei, and major pro-reform parties have been either banned or dismantled since the disputed re-election of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the 2009 presidential vote.

The Guardian Council, a hardline vetting body, disqualified 6,850 hopefuls out of 14,000, ranging from moderates to conservatives, from contesting parliament polls.

In the latest challenge to Khamenei, Iran announced the detection of 28 cases of coronavirus, with five deaths.

Khamenei faces mounting pressure from the United States over Iran's nuclear programme and discontent over mismanagement of the economy is unlikely to ease as sanctions squeeze the country.

President Donald Trump raised the stakes in his standoff with Tehran when Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani, was killed in a U.S. drone strike at Baghdad airport in January.

Large gains in Friday's vote may also hand hardliners an advantage in the 2021 contest for president, a job with wide day-to-day control of government.

Such a result would help the Guards, already omnipresent in Iranians' daily lives, to increase their substantial influence in political, social and economic affairs.

The unrest in November, which called for regime change, was met with a violent crackdown overseen by the Guards that killed hundreds and led to the arrest of thousands.

Candidates affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards looked on course to win a parliamentary majority on Saturday, reportedly leading in the race in Tehran and across the country after a vote stacked in favour of loyalists to the supreme leader.

Candidates affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards looked on course to win a parliamentary majority on Saturday, reportedly leading in the race in Tehran and across the country after a vote stacked in favour of loyalists to the supreme leader. The Interior Ministry said a list of candidates affiliated with the Guards led in the capital. An unofficial tally by Reuters shows hardliners have so far won about 178 seats in the 290-seat parliament, independents 43 and moderates 17. In some constituencies, where candidates failed to get 20% of votes cast on Friday, a run-off will be held in April. A clean sweep for hardliners would confirm the political demise of the country's pragmatist politicians, weakened by Washington's decision to quit a 2015 nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions in a move that stifled rapprochement with the West. However, Iranian authorities have yet to announce the turnout in the race for the 290-seat legislature - a test of the popularity of hardliners closely associated with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran's rulers, under intense U.S. pressure over the country's nuclear programme, need a high turnout to boost their legitimacy, damaged after nationwide protests in November. Some unconfirmed reports suggested voter participation was about 45%, the lowest since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Khamenei on Friday said voting was "a religious duty". Turnout was 62% in the 2016 parliamentary vote and 66% of people voted in 2012. In Tehran, which accounts for 30 seats in parliament, the hardline candidates were headed by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, a former mayor of the capital who once commanded the Guards' air force. Qalibaf’s chances of becoming parliament speaker hinge on gaining the trust of hardliners, who struggled for days to reach consensus on a single slate for Tehran. Guardian council Parliamentary elections have little impact on Iran's foreign or nuclear policies, which are set by Khamenei, and major pro-reform parties have been either banned or dismantled since the disputed re-election of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the 2009 presidential vote. The Guardian Council, a hardline vetting body, disqualified 6,850 hopefuls out of 14,000, ranging from moderates to conservatives, from contesting parliament polls. In the latest challenge to Khamenei, Iran announced the detection of 28 cases of coronavirus, with five deaths. Khamenei faces mounting pressure from the United States over Iran's nuclear programme and discontent over mismanagement of the economy is unlikely to ease as sanctions squeeze the country. President Donald Trump raised the stakes in his standoff with Tehran when Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani, was killed in a U.S. drone strike at Baghdad airport in January. Large gains in Friday's vote may also hand hardliners an advantage in the 2021 contest for president, a job with wide day-to-day control of government. Such a result would help the Guards, already omnipresent in Iranians' daily lives, to increase their substantial influence in political, social and economic affairs. The unrest in November, which called for regime change, was met with a violent crackdown overseen by the Guards that killed hundreds and led to the arrest of thousands.

Hardline Guards make early gains in restricted Iran election

Polling booths opened in Iran on Thursday with President Hassan Rouhani's fate in the balance.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-defends-barring-of-candidates-as-campaign-ends-281826">Also Read:&nbsp;Iran defends barring of candidates as campaign ends</a>

The country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/us-pullout-from-nuclear-deal-makes-iran-elections-even-more-crucial-281859">Khamenei</a> was one of the early voters while calling people to take part in the election "as soon as possible" and &nbsp;"guarantee the country's national interests".

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-parliamentary-election-today-281912/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It is the eleventh parliamentary election in the country since 1979 taking place this time under US sanctions and under the cloud of former Quad chief Sulemani's death which created widespread uproar in the country after the Iran general was killed by a US drone strike in Iraq.

Public anger aimed at the government last month as Iran's army brought down a Ukrainian airliner killing all 176 people on board on the same day the US conducted drone strikes against Sulemani.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/iran-to-vote-in-crucial-parliamentary-election-many-see-as-lost-cause-281844">In Pics: Iran to vote in crucial parliamentary election, many see as 'lost cause'</a>

Experts feel the Conservatives may win ousting Rouhani as the country battles high inflation and economic downturn amid US sanctions. In the past ten elections, Iran has averaged 60.5 per cent turnout.

The Guardian Council said it expected at least 50 per cent of registered voters to cast ballots.

At least 58 million people are eligible to vote with 16,033 candidates contesting for 290 seats in 31 provinces.

Voting for the Majles, Iran's parliament lasts for at least ten hours or more with final results expected by Sunday.

Polling booths opened in Iran on Thursday with President Hassan Rouhani's fate in the balance. Also Read: Iran defends barring of candidates as campaign ends The country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was one of the early voters while calling people to take part in the election "as soon as possible" and "guarantee the country's national interests".

Polling booths opened in Iran on Thursday with President Hassan Rouhani's fate in the balance. Also Read: Iran defends barring of candidates as campaign ends The country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was one of the early voters while calling people to take part in the election "as soon as possible" and "guarantee the country's national interests". Watch Video: It is the eleventh parliamentary election in the country since 1979 taking place this time under US sanctions and under the cloud of former Quad chief Sulemani's death which created widespread uproar in the country after the Iran general was killed by a US drone strike in Iraq. Public anger aimed at the government last month as Iran's army brought down a Ukrainian airliner killing all 176 people on board on the same day the US conducted drone strikes against Sulemani. In Pics: Iran to vote in crucial parliamentary election, many see as 'lost cause' Experts feel the Conservatives may win ousting Rouhani as the country battles high inflation and economic downturn amid US sanctions. In the past ten elections, Iran has averaged 60.5 per cent turnout. The Guardian Council said it expected at least 50 per cent of registered voters to cast ballots. At least 58 million people are eligible to vote with 16,033 candidates contesting for 290 seats in 31 provinces. Voting for the Majles, Iran's parliament lasts for at least ten hours or more with final results expected by Sunday.

Voting begins in Iran's parliamentary elections

The voting for parliamentary polls in Iran began today. Iran elections come at a time when the Islamic Republic is most vulnerable, both from the inside and from the outside. American sanctions have crippled the economy and public anger against the regime has raged on unabated.

Voting begins for Iran's parliamentary polls, 7,148 candidates in the race

Election campaigning for the upcoming polls ended in Iran. Iran elections come at a time when the Islamic Republic is most vulnerable, both from the inside and from the outside. American sanctions have crippled the economy and public anger against the regime has raged on unabated.

Iran parliamentary election today

Issues affecting women were conspicuously absent from Iran&rsquo;s 2017 presidential election. That&rsquo;s unless one finds useful the leading conservative candidate Hojjat al-Islam Ebrahim Raisi&rsquo;s comment that his government would enhance women&rsquo;s dignity within the family, because women should be &ldquo;good mothers and wives&rdquo;.&nbsp;

The absence was a departure from the June 2009 presidential campaign, when two reformist candidates backed women&rsquo;s rights. Now that President Hassan Rouhani has been reelected by a wide margin for another four-year term, it is crucial to ponder what his victory means for Iranian women. Rouhani has widespread support among Iran&rsquo;s urban population, the middle class, young people and women.

Iranian activists did try to raise the issue during the electoral season. On May 6, several weeks before the election, some 180 women, including journalists, intellectuals and veteran activists, such as Noushin Ahmadi Khorasani, Minoo Mortazi, Fatemeh Sadeghi, Fatemeh Govarayee, issued a statement outlining their demands for the next president of Iran.

Among them were greater inclusion of women in the country&rsquo;s economic activity, repeal of discriminatory laws, increased female sports and a quota reserving at least 30% of ministerial positions for women.

The statement was hardly noticed, in part because the months prior to the election saw a crackdown on activism, with increasing detentions, arrests, trials and long prison terms.

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No space for women

All six candidates made promises about creating jobs and reducing poverty during their campaigns, but the social, economic and political status of women was barely discussed.

According to a May 11 analysis by the International Civil Society Action Network of the first televised electoral debate, there was just one question about women, with a two-minute response time allotted. And that question centred on the role of women in the family. 
In another debate, Sardar Ghalibaf, Tehran&rsquo;s mayor and former candidate, who is Raisi&rsquo;s ally, discussed single mothers and the challenges of raising children with disabilities. But he focused on supporting the children without highlighting that their mothers require financial help to do so.

Reacting in an interview with the daily newspaper Shahrvand, Parvaneh Salahshouri, a female parliamentarian from Tehran, asked, &ldquo;How is it that social issues are addressed but the demands of half of society are not taken into consideration?&rdquo;

Salahshouri criticised the state broadcasting agency, but her remarks also pointed at the candidates, suggesting that by limiting their discussion of gender issues to the family, the men displayed a contempt for the real problems faced by women.

Discrimination against women

Discrimination against women remains prevalent in Iran. Iranian women do not have custody of their children, compulsory veiling is still enforced and domestic violence is insufficiently condemned by law. With inheritances, a man is entitled to twice as much a woman. 
Iranian women are highly educated. In 2013, they represented over 60% of the country&rsquo;s university applicants. But they lack access to jobs.

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Though official unemployment figures hover around 12% , the number could as high as 20% for women.

Female workers are also paid less than male peers, especially in factories, and many women must work two jobs to make ends meet. 
A rising number of women from fragile socioeconomic backgrounds have turned to sex work to earn higher wages, both online and on the streets.

Activities that seem mundane in many other parts of the world, such as partaking in sports, are still a challenge in Iran. Women are not allowed into stadiums with men, even though Iranian female athletes have achieved significant success in international sports competitions.

Small, steady successes

There are some bright spots. Iranian businesswomen have thrived in recent years, excelling in diverse sectors, from knowledge-based corporate services and recycling to animal husbandry.

On the political front, too, women are emerging victorious. In the May 2016 parliamentary election, 17 women were elected to join the 290-member body), an historic record for the Islamic Republic.

This year&rsquo;s city council elections, which took place on the same day as the presidential election, saw heavy participation by women as voters and on the ballot, with an increase in female candidates of nearly 6% over the previous year. Women competed even in small cities, and images of female candidates circulated widely on Iranian social media. City councils are important in Iran&rsquo;s city planning and urban life, and many activists encouraged women to participate.

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The high female turnout, and the volume of qualified women in city councils, could give women more latitude to actually change their everyday lives. But they will need support from higher authorities to do so.

Rouhani&rsquo;s failed efforts

Is Rouhani their guy? The president is considered a religious moderate, and in 2013 he claimed that he would open up social and political spheres to women. In 2014, he went so far as to criticise gender discrimination and encourage equality.

Such statements clash with those of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who believes that women should be primarily dedicated to household activities and that Iran must not adopt Western views on gender.

In his first term, Rouhani appointed women to ministerial and cabinet positions. The vice president for women and family affairs, Shahindokht Molaverdi, has used this space to contribute to the national gender debate by condemning hardliners who threatened female spectators at a men&rsquo;s volleyball match.

Speaking at a national conference and women and development on February 7, President Rouhani said, &ldquo;We should believe in women&rsquo;s presence and capabilities and know that our country&rsquo;s women can have roles in science, knowledge, economy, politics, and arts just like men.&rdquo;

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But many Iranian women feel Rouhani has failed them. Segregation in public spaces, gender discrimination, and morality police all persist, and the president remained silent when female activists were arrested during the election campaign.

Admittedly, Rouhani has limited room to manoeuvre. Powerful hardliners control key Iranian political structures, among them the Guardian Council, which has the final say on interpretation of Islamic values and laws, including veto power. A conservative majority in the parliament also prevents strong reforms from passing.

The question now is whether Rouhani will use his second term to find new opportunities and live up to Iranian women&rsquo;s hopes. 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-iranian-women-want-rights-jobs-and-a-seat-at-the-table-77633">original article</a>.)

Iranian women want rights, jobs and a seat at the table

Issues affecting women were conspicuously absent from Iran’s 2017 presidential election. That’s unless one finds useful the leading conservative candidate Hojjat al-Islam Ebrahim Raisi’s comment that his government would enhance women’s dignity within the family, because women should be “good mothers and wives”. The absence was a departure from the June 2009 presidential campaign, when two reformist candidates backed women’s rights. Now that President Hassan Rouhani has been reelected by a wide margin for another four-year term, it is crucial to ponder what his victory means for Iranian women. Rouhani has widespread support among Iran’s urban population, the middle class, young people and women. Iranian activists did try to raise the issue during the electoral season. On May 6, several weeks before the election, some 180 women, including journalists, intellectuals and veteran activists, such as Noushin Ahmadi Khorasani, Minoo Mortazi, Fatemeh Sadeghi, Fatemeh Govarayee, issued a statement outlining their demands for the next president of Iran. Among them were greater inclusion of women in the country’s economic activity, repeal of discriminatory laws, increased female sports and a quota reserving at least 30% of ministerial positions for women. The statement was hardly noticed, in part because the months prior to the election saw a crackdown on activism, with increasing detentions, arrests, trials and long prison terms. The months prior to the election saw a crackdown on activism, with increasing detentions, arrests, trials and long prison terms × No space for women All six candidates made promises about creating jobs and reducing poverty during their campaigns, but the social, economic and political status of women was barely discussed. According to a May 11 analysis by the International Civil Society Action Network of the first televised electoral debate, there was just one question about women, with a two-minute response time allotted. And that question centred on the role of women in the family. In another debate, Sardar Ghalibaf, Tehran’s mayor and former candidate, who is Raisi’s ally, discussed single mothers and the challenges of raising children with disabilities. But he focused on supporting the children without highlighting that their mothers require financial help to do so. Reacting in an interview with the daily newspaper Shahrvand, Parvaneh Salahshouri, a female parliamentarian from Tehran, asked, “How is it that social issues are addressed but the demands of half of society are not taken into consideration?” Salahshouri criticised the state broadcasting agency, but her remarks also pointed at the candidates, suggesting that by limiting their discussion of gender issues to the family, the men displayed a contempt for the real problems faced by women. Discrimination against women Discrimination against women remains prevalent in Iran. Iranian women do not have custody of their children, compulsory veiling is still enforced and domestic violence is insufficiently condemned by law. With inheritances, a man is entitled to twice as much a woman. Iranian women are highly educated. In 2013, they represented over 60% of the country’s university applicants. But they lack access to jobs. Iranian women are highly educated. In 2013, they represented over 60% of the country’s university applicants. But they lack access to jobs × Though official unemployment figures hover around 12% , the number could as high as 20% for women. Female workers are also paid less than male peers, especially in factories, and many women must work two jobs to make ends meet. A rising number of women from fragile socioeconomic backgrounds have turned to sex work to earn higher wages, both online and on the streets. Activities that seem mundane in many other parts of the world, such as partaking in sports, are still a challenge in Iran. Women are not allowed into stadiums with men, even though Iranian female athletes have achieved significant success in international sports competitions. Small, steady successes There are some bright spots. Iranian businesswomen have thrived in recent years, excelling in diverse sectors, from knowledge-based corporate services and recycling to animal husbandry. On the political front, too, women are emerging victorious. In the May 2016 parliamentary election, 17 women were elected to join the 290-member body), an historic record for the Islamic Republic. This year’s city council elections, which took place on the same day as the presidential election, saw heavy participation by women as voters and on the ballot, with an increase in female candidates of nearly 6% over the previous year. Women competed even in small cities, and images of female candidates circulated widely on Iranian social media. City councils are important in Iran’s city planning and urban life, and many activists encouraged women to participate. The high female turnout, and the volume of qualified women in city councils, could give women more latitude to actually change their everyday lives × The high female turnout, and the volume of qualified women in city councils, could give women more latitude to actually change their everyday lives. But they will need support from higher authorities to do so. Rouhani’s failed efforts Is Rouhani their guy? The president is considered a religious moderate, and in 2013 he claimed that he would open up social and political spheres to women. In 2014, he went so far as to criticise gender discrimination and encourage equality. Such statements clash with those of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who believes that women should be primarily dedicated to household activities and that Iran must not adopt Western views on gender. In his first term, Rouhani appointed women to ministerial and cabinet positions. The vice president for women and family affairs, Shahindokht Molaverdi, has used this space to contribute to the national gender debate by condemning hardliners who threatened female spectators at a men’s volleyball match. Speaking at a national conference and women and development on February 7, President Rouhani said, “We should believe in women’s presence and capabilities and know that our country’s women can have roles in science, knowledge, economy, politics, and arts just like men.” Segregation in public spaces, gender discrimination, and morality police all persist, and the president remained silent when female activists were arrested during the election campaign × But many Iranian women feel Rouhani has failed them. Segregation in public spaces, gender discrimination, and morality police all persist, and the president remained silent when female activists were arrested during the election campaign. Admittedly, Rouhani has limited room to manoeuvre. Powerful hardliners control key Iranian political structures, among them the Guardian Council, which has the final say on interpretation of Islamic values and laws, including veto power. A conservative majority in the parliament also prevents strong reforms from passing. The question now is whether Rouhani will use his second term to find new opportunities and live up to Iranian women’s hopes. (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.)

Women issues were absent from Iran?s 2017 presidential election

After his re-election triumph, President Hassan Rouhani must now grapple with a fiercely hostile United States and hardliners at home as he struggles to build a more moderate and connected Iran.

Iran&#39;s entrenched conservative establishment -- particularly in the judiciary and elite Revolutionary Guards -- remain deeply suspicious of Rouhani&#39;s talk of civil liberties and building ties with the West.

&quot;The non-elected institutions will try to prevent Rouhani from applying his reform agenda,&quot; said Clement Therme, Iran analyst for the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

&quot;So he will focus on the economic side. If the daily lives of the population improve, he will be in a stronger position to push for structural reforms on civil rights.&quot;

Fixing the economy will not be easy. Despite a nuclear deal with world powers, Washington still maintains a raft of sanctions that are scaring off global banks and foreign investors.

US President Donald Trump has gone further, threatening to tear up the nuclear deal and visiting Iran&#39;s bitter regional rival Saudi Arabia this weekend, where he signed a $110 billion arms deal described as targeting &quot;malign Iranian influence&quot; in the region.

Nonetheless, European and Asian governments are determined to keep the nuclear deal alive and take full advantage of the lucrative investment opportunities in Iran.

They are cheered by Rouhani&#39;s victory over hardliner Ebrahim Raisi, who had threatened a tougher, more insular approach to foreign relations.

&quot;A lot of investors I hadn&#39;t heard from for three months were suddenly phoning me this morning. Some are already booking their tickets,&quot; said Farid Dehdilani, international adviser for the Iranian Privatisation Organisation after results were announced on Saturday.

&quot;Dr Rouhani will more aggressively pursue his economic agenda -- investing in factories, production and absorbing foreign capital. I think he&#39;ll make his cabinet younger and more agile,&quot; he said.

&#39;A smarter politician&#39;&nbsp;

Challenging the security forces, which control large swathes of the economy and need Iran&#39;s resources as a source of patronage, will be tough.

And Rouhani notably failed to win the release of jailed opposition leaders or prevent the arrest of several dual nationals by intelligence services outside his control.

Many fear his second term could mirror that of reformist president Mohammad Khatami in the early 2000s, when every attempt at reform was frustrated by the hardline establishment.

But Rouhani, a long-time regime insider, may be better placed than his predecessors, said politics professor Foad Izadi, of Tehran University.

&quot;Rouhani has shown himself to be a smarter politician than Khatami was,&quot; said Izadi.

&quot;He&#39;s been part of the system long enough to know how to navigate it. Khatami was more ideological which reduced his ability to get things done.&quot;

Crucially, Rouhani&#39;s technocratic approach has allowed him to co-opt key conservatives such as parliament speaker Ali Larijani.

&quot;The alliance with Larijani has been very helpful to Rouhani in getting his ministers and policies approved. That will continue to be crucial in his second term,&quot; said Izadi.

Next supreme leader?&nbsp;

The big long-term question is whether Rouhani can influence the rise of the next supreme leader after the death of the ageing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Raisi, touted as a possible successor, is now out of the running, said Izadi.

&quot;Maybe he will come back in four years, but with this type of showing we can rest assured that Raisi will not be the next supreme leader. The leader must show popular support.&quot;

But with hardliners firmly in control of the Assembly of Experts that will choose the next leader, Rouhani and his allies have little influence over the succession.

Nonetheless, this weekend&#39;s election has given a clear indication that Iran&#39;s youthful population supports his vision for the country&#39;s future.

&quot;Iranian people no longer believe in economic populism and radical change,&quot; said Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group.

&quot;They have the maturity to understand that the solution to their country&#39;s predicaments are in competent management of the economy and moderation in international relations.&quot;

(AFP)

The Iranian non-elected establishment is keenly distrubed by Hassan Rouhani's talk of expanding civil liberties and building bridges with the West

After his re-election triumph, President Hassan Rouhani must now grapple with a fiercely hostile United States and hardliners at home as he struggles to build a more moderate and connected Iran. Iran's entrenched conservative establishment -- particularly in the judiciary and elite Revolutionary Guards -- remain deeply suspicious of Rouhani's talk of civil liberties and building ties with the West. "The non-elected institutions will try to prevent Rouhani from applying his reform agenda," said Clement Therme, Iran analyst for the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "So he will focus on the economic side. If the daily lives of the population improve, he will be in a stronger position to push for structural reforms on civil rights." Fixing the economy will not be easy. Despite a nuclear deal with world powers, Washington still maintains a raft of sanctions that are scaring off global banks and foreign investors. US President Donald Trump has gone further, threatening to tear up the nuclear deal and visiting Iran's bitter regional rival Saudi Arabia this weekend, where he signed a $110 billion arms deal described as targeting "malign Iranian influence" in the region. Nonetheless, European and Asian governments are determined to keep the nuclear deal alive and take full advantage of the lucrative investment opportunities in Iran. They are cheered by Rouhani's victory over hardliner Ebrahim Raisi, who had threatened a tougher, more insular approach to foreign relations. "A lot of investors I hadn't heard from for three months were suddenly phoning me this morning. Some are already booking their tickets," said Farid Dehdilani, international adviser for the Iranian Privatisation Organisation after results were announced on Saturday. "Dr Rouhani will more aggressively pursue his economic agenda -- investing in factories, production and absorbing foreign capital. I think he'll make his cabinet younger and more agile," he said. 'A smarter politician' Challenging the security forces, which control large swathes of the economy and need Iran's resources as a source of patronage, will be tough. And Rouhani notably failed to win the release of jailed opposition leaders or prevent the arrest of several dual nationals by intelligence services outside his control. Many fear his second term could mirror that of reformist president Mohammad Khatami in the early 2000s, when every attempt at reform was frustrated by the hardline establishment. But Rouhani, a long-time regime insider, may be better placed than his predecessors, said politics professor Foad Izadi, of Tehran University. "Rouhani has shown himself to be a smarter politician than Khatami was," said Izadi. "He's been part of the system long enough to know how to navigate it. Khatami was more ideological which reduced his ability to get things done." Crucially, Rouhani's technocratic approach has allowed him to co-opt key conservatives such as parliament speaker Ali Larijani. "The alliance with Larijani has been very helpful to Rouhani in getting his ministers and policies approved. That will continue to be crucial in his second term," said Izadi. Next supreme leader? The big long-term question is whether Rouhani can influence the rise of the next supreme leader after the death of the ageing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Raisi, touted as a possible successor, is now out of the running, said Izadi. "Maybe he will come back in four years, but with this type of showing we can rest assured that Raisi will not be the next supreme leader. The leader must show popular support." But with hardliners firmly in control of the Assembly of Experts that will choose the next leader, Rouhani and his allies have little influence over the succession. Nonetheless, this weekend's election has given a clear indication that Iran's youthful population supports his vision for the country's future. "Iranian people no longer believe in economic populism and radical change," said Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group. "They have the maturity to understand that the solution to their country's predicaments are in competent management of the economy and moderation in international relations." (AFP)

President Rouhani's next challenge? Battling hawks in Iran and US

President Hassan Rouhani was leading in Iran&#39;s election with more than half of votes counted on Saturday, the head of the election committee announced.&nbsp;

Out of 25.9 million votes counted, Rouhani had 14.6 million and his hardline challenger Ebrahim Raisi 10.1 million, said Ali Asghar Ahmadi on state television.

A huge turnout on Friday -- estimated at more than 40 million out of 56 million registered voters -- led to the vote being extended by several hours to deal with long queues.&nbsp;

Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric who spearheaded a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, has framed the vote as a choice between greater civil liberties and &quot;extremism&quot;.&nbsp;

But he has faced stiff competition from hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi, 56, who positioned himself as a defender of the poor and called for a much tougher line with the West. 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Out of 25.9 million votes counted, Rouhani had 14.6 million and his hardline challenger Ebrahim Raisi 10.1 million

President Hassan Rouhani was leading in Iran's election with more than half of votes counted on Saturday, the head of the election committee announced. Out of 25.9 million votes counted, Rouhani had 14.6 million and his hardline challenger Ebrahim Raisi 10.1 million, said Ali Asghar Ahmadi on state television. A huge turnout on Friday -- estimated at more than 40 million out of 56 million registered voters -- led to the vote being extended by several hours to deal with long queues. Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric who spearheaded a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, has framed the vote as a choice between greater civil liberties and "extremism". But he has faced stiff competition from hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi, 56, who positioned himself as a defender of the poor and called for a much tougher line with the West. (AFP)

Iran President Rouhani leading in election: Election official

Iran, the Middle East&#39;s second largest power by economy and population, is the Shiite Muslim rival of regional Sunni giant Saudi Arabia.

Second biggest economy

Iran&nbsp;has the region&#39;s second largest economy after Saudi Arabia. With 79.11 million inhabitants (2015, World Bank), it is also the second most populous country in the Middle East, after Egypt.

A founding member of OPEC, it has the world&#39;s fourth-biggest oil reserves and the second-largest gas reserves, after Russia.

In 2014, income per capita was $6,550.

Some economic sanctions imposed on&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;over its nuclear programme have been lifted since mid-January 2016, allowing Tehran to resume oil exports and pick up trade with the European Union.

However, the fall in the price of crude has weighed on the economy.

Unemployment officially stands at 12.5 per cent, including 27 per cent of young people -- which analysts say is an understatement -- and foreign investment is only trickling in.

Shia&nbsp;Muslim power

Iran&nbsp;has an area of 1,648,195 square kilometres (659,278 square miles).

The descendant of the Persian Empire, it was long a monarchy ruled by a shah and dominated by the Pahlavi dynasty from 1925 to 1979.

In January 1979, shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was driven out by a popular revolt. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a revolutionary cleric who had lived in exile for a decade and a half, made a triumphant return on February 1.

The shah&#39;s government fell 10 days later when public radio announced &quot;the end of 2,500 years of despotism&quot;.

An Islamic republic was proclaimed on April 1.

Between 1980 and 1988&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;fought a war with Iraq in which more than a million people were killed.

Rivalry with Saudis

For centuries, Shiite-majority&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;has competed with Turks and Arabs for regional supremacy. Currently, its main rival is Sunni heavyweight Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

The two countries have taken opposing sides in wars in Syria and Yemen.

In Syria, Tehran backs the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, a member of the minority Alawite community, against Sunni rebels supported by Riyadh.

In Yemen, Saudi Arabia fights in support of pro-government forces against&nbsp;Iran-backed rebels and their allies.

Conservatives, reformers, moderates

After Khomeini died in 1989, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, president since October 1981, became supreme leader.

Moderate conservative Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was elected president and orchestrated economic reforms.

After eight years of rule by reformist president Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005), hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office in 2005. His re-election&nbsp;in June 2009 sparked a massive political crisis and a crackdown on nationwide protests that decimated the reformist movement.

Historic nuclear accord

After taking office on August 3, 2013, President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate cleric, relaunched formal negotiations with major powers on&nbsp;Iran&#39;s nuclear programme.

An historic accord was signed on July 14, 2015 and implemented on January 16, 2016, bringing a 13-year-long dispute to a close.&nbsp;

Terms of the accord stipulate that Tehran will not try to build a nuclear bomb, an ambition it has always denied. In exchange, many international sanctions were lifted although remaining US sanctions continue to stifle trade.

State institutions

The highest political authority is the supreme leader, who has the final say on all national issues.

The president, elected for four years by universal suffrage, nominates the government.

The Assembly of Experts is a body of elected clerics that oversees the functions of the supreme leader. Constitutionally, it has powers to select and even dismiss the leader.

Parliament&#39;s powers are limited when compared to other institutions, and it is vetted by the Guardian Council.

The Expediency Council is&nbsp;Iran&#39;s top political arbitration body, tasked with resolving disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council and of advising the supreme leader.

The Revolutionary Guards are the elite arm of the country&#39;s military, and deeply embedded in Iranian political and economic life.

A primer on this year&#39;s election

Over 1,600 Iranians, of which 100 were women,&nbsp;threw their hats in the ring to be the next president. The Guardian Council whittled down the list to six candidates, none of whom were women.

The shortlisted names were incumbent President Hussain Rouhani, incumbent vice president Eshaq Jahangiri, Ebrahim Raisi, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Mostafa Mir-Salim and Mostafa Hashemitaba.

Ghalibaf and Jahangiri have dropped out in the last two days, leaving four candidates for the country&#39;s presidential post.

But it is widely suggested that this year&#39;s election will be a two-horse race between the current president and the hardline cleric Raisi.

Who is Rouhani?

With his snow-white beard, he comes across as jovial and scholarly, if not overly charismatic, when speaking in public.

He has presented himself as the candidate of change and social freedoms, attacking his opponents as &quot;extremists&quot; whose &quot;era is over&quot;.

His first term did see a groundbreaking 2015 deal with world powers that ended many sanctions and a 13-year standoff over&nbsp;Iran&#39;s nuclear programme.

But critics say he over-sold the economic benefits of the deal, and despite taming inflation, his popularity has been dented by continuing stagnation and high unemployment.

And while social restrictions have eased to some degree during his tenure, many journalists and political activists still face arbitrary arrest, and his efforts to release jailed opposition leaders have failed.

A Bill of Rights he announced in late 2016 was roundly dismissed by critics since it failed to impose any changes on the conservative-dominated judiciary and intelligence services.

Still, many young urbanites consider him the best hope for change.

Who is Raisi?

Born into a religious family in the holy city of Mashhad on August 23, 1960, Raisi wears the black turban of a &quot;seyed&quot; whose genealogy is said to lead back to Islam&#39;s Prophet Mohammed.

In public, he has an austere charisma, and is surrounded by an entourage with ties to the Islamic regime&#39;s most hardline elements.

He has focused his campaign on the poor, brandishing his credentials as the head of the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, which is also a powerful and hugely wealthy charitable foundation.

&quot;I represent the workers, the farmers, the impoverished women,&quot; he says, vowing to triple cash hand-outs.

It is a message that has fallen on fertile ground at a time when unemployment is at least 12.5 percent and almost everyone is feeling the stagnation of the economy.&nbsp;

He does not oppose the nuclear deal signed with world powers in 2015, which lifted sanctions in exchange for curbs to&nbsp;Iran&#39;s atomic programme.&nbsp;

But he says the current government&#39;s negotiating efforts were &quot;weak&quot; and called for a much tougher line &quot;in the face of the enemy&quot;.&nbsp;

There is little chance Raisi will ease social restrictions or release opposition leaders held under house arrest since the 2009 protest movement, known to conservatives as &quot;the sedition&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;Those who sympathise with the heads of sedition must know that the great nation of&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;will never forgive this great injustice,&quot; he said in 2014.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

The election is being primarily fought between moderate President Hassan Rouhani and hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi

Iran, the Middle East's second largest power by economy and population, is the Shiite Muslim rival of regional Sunni giant Saudi Arabia. Second biggest economy Iran has the region's second largest economy after Saudi Arabia. With 79.11 million inhabitants (2015, World Bank), it is also the second most populous country in the Middle East, after Egypt. A founding member of OPEC, it has the world's fourth-biggest oil reserves and the second-largest gas reserves, after Russia. In 2014, income per capita was $6,550. Some economic sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme have been lifted since mid-January 2016, allowing Tehran to resume oil exports and pick up trade with the European Union. However, the fall in the price of crude has weighed on the economy. Unemployment officially stands at 12.5 per cent, including 27 per cent of young people -- which analysts say is an understatement -- and foreign investment is only trickling in. Shia Muslim power Iran has an area of 1,648,195 square kilometres (659,278 square miles). The descendant of the Persian Empire, it was long a monarchy ruled by a shah and dominated by the Pahlavi dynasty from 1925 to 1979. In January 1979, shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was driven out by a popular revolt. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a revolutionary cleric who had lived in exile for a decade and a half, made a triumphant return on February 1. The shah's government fell 10 days later when public radio announced "the end of 2,500 years of despotism". An Islamic republic was proclaimed on April 1. Between 1980 and 1988 Iran fought a war with Iraq in which more than a million people were killed. Rivalry with Saudis For centuries, Shiite-majority Iran has competed with Turks and Arabs for regional supremacy. Currently, its main rival is Sunni heavyweight Saudi Arabia. The two countries have taken opposing sides in wars in Syria and Yemen. In Syria, Tehran backs the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, a member of the minority Alawite community, against Sunni rebels supported by Riyadh. In Yemen, Saudi Arabia fights in support of pro-government forces against Iran-backed rebels and their allies. Conservatives, reformers, moderates After Khomeini died in 1989, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, president since October 1981, became supreme leader. Moderate conservative Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was elected president and orchestrated economic reforms. After eight years of rule by reformist president Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005), hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office in 2005. His re-election in June 2009 sparked a massive political crisis and a crackdown on nationwide protests that decimated the reformist movement. Historic nuclear accord After taking office on August 3, 2013, President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate cleric, relaunched formal negotiations with major powers on Iran's nuclear programme. An historic accord was signed on July 14, 2015 and implemented on January 16, 2016, bringing a 13-year-long dispute to a close. Terms of the accord stipulate that Tehran will not try to build a nuclear bomb, an ambition it has always denied. In exchange, many international sanctions were lifted although remaining US sanctions continue to stifle trade. State institutions The highest political authority is the supreme leader, who has the final say on all national issues. The president, elected for four years by universal suffrage, nominates the government. The Assembly of Experts is a body of elected clerics that oversees the functions of the supreme leader. Constitutionally, it has powers to select and even dismiss the leader. Parliament's powers are limited when compared to other institutions, and it is vetted by the Guardian Council. The Expediency Council is Iran's top political arbitration body, tasked with resolving disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council and of advising the supreme leader. The Revolutionary Guards are the elite arm of the country's military, and deeply embedded in Iranian political and economic life. A primer on this year's election Over 1,600 Iranians, of which 100 were women, threw their hats in the ring to be the next president. The Guardian Council whittled down the list to six candidates, none of whom were women. The shortlisted names were incumbent President Hussain Rouhani, incumbent vice president Eshaq Jahangiri, Ebrahim Raisi, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Mostafa Mir-Salim and Mostafa Hashemitaba. Ghalibaf and Jahangiri have dropped out in the last two days, leaving four candidates for the country's presidential post. But it is widely suggested that this year's election will be a two-horse race between the current president and the hardline cleric Raisi. Who is Rouhani? With his snow-white beard, he comes across as jovial and scholarly, if not overly charismatic, when speaking in public. He has presented himself as the candidate of change and social freedoms, attacking his opponents as "extremists" whose "era is over". His first term did see a groundbreaking 2015 deal with world powers that ended many sanctions and a 13-year standoff over Iran's nuclear programme. But critics say he over-sold the economic benefits of the deal, and despite taming inflation, his popularity has been dented by continuing stagnation and high unemployment. And while social restrictions have eased to some degree during his tenure, many journalists and political activists still face arbitrary arrest, and his efforts to release jailed opposition leaders have failed. A Bill of Rights he announced in late 2016 was roundly dismissed by critics since it failed to impose any changes on the conservative-dominated judiciary and intelligence services. Still, many young urbanites consider him the best hope for change. Who is Raisi? Born into a religious family in the holy city of Mashhad on August 23, 1960, Raisi wears the black turban of a "seyed" whose genealogy is said to lead back to Islam's Prophet Mohammed. In public, he has an austere charisma, and is surrounded by an entourage with ties to the Islamic regime's most hardline elements. He has focused his campaign on the poor, brandishing his credentials as the head of the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, which is also a powerful and hugely wealthy charitable foundation. "I represent the workers, the farmers, the impoverished women," he says, vowing to triple cash hand-outs. It is a message that has fallen on fertile ground at a time when unemployment is at least 12.5 percent and almost everyone is feeling the stagnation of the economy. He does not oppose the nuclear deal signed with world powers in 2015, which lifted sanctions in exchange for curbs to Iran's atomic programme. But he says the current government's negotiating efforts were "weak" and called for a much tougher line "in the face of the enemy". There is little chance Raisi will ease social restrictions or release opposition leaders held under house arrest since the 2009 protest movement, known to conservatives as "the sedition". "Those who sympathise with the heads of sedition must know that the great nation of Iran will never forgive this great injustice," he said in 2014. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Iranian presidential election: Why is it important?

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