Iran Picks New President

Iranians will vote on this Friday to elect a new president from six candidates, including a lone reformist who hopes he can challenge the dominance of conservatives in the Islamic republic.
A presidential election had not been due until 2025, but was brought forward after ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash last month.
The snap poll comes at a challenging time as Iran grapples with the economic impact of international sanctions amid heightened regional tensions over the Gaza war between Israel and Tehran’s ally Hamas.
In April, Iran fired more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel after an air strike in Damascus blamed on Israel killed seven Revolutionary Guards.
Leading contenders for Iran’s second highest-ranking office are conservative parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, ultra-conservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, and the sole reformist, Massoud Pezeshkian.
The candidates have staged largely low-key campaigns, which included televised debates where they vowed to tackle economic challenges and offered varied views on Iran’s relations with the West.