Iran elects president after campaign marked by its nuclear programme

The future of Iran’s nuclear program has been the focus of the campaign for this Friday’s presidential elections, an election that has come to a head after the death of Ebrahim Raisi. Two models of the state compete for the presidency with contrasting proposals that affect life here Polarized society out of 88 million inhabitants. before Economic Crisis This has been plaguing Iran for years, with rising inflation running at over 40% and the local currency rapidly depreciating, International sanctions The Iranian nuclear program has again gained prominence in the campaign.

In the heated election debates held till today, the candidates of Hard line He has denied that international sanctions have affected the country’s economy. “The international community is not made up of just two or three Western countries,” he said during an election debate. Saeed Jalilione of the candidates for Hard line with more support to win the presidency. Jalili held a senior position in the previous nuclear talks and is clearly opposed to it Reconciliation with the West or making concessions so that the United States would lift sanctions.

The only reformist candidate, Masoud Pezeshkianadvocates restarting relations with Western countries so that sanctions are lifted and Iran can restart its economy. “Without a reasonable foreign policy We cannot exert pressure for economic gain; we cannot have good relations even with our friends,” warned influential former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Former head of Persian diplomacy during the reformist presidency Hasan Ruhanihas shown his public support for Pezeshkian’s candidacy. In several public interventions during the campaign, he has shown graphic data on how 2015 nuclear deal with the United States — in which Tehran promised to reduce centrifuges and reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium — stoked tensions Oil sales and helped the country’s economic growth. Zarif has always stressed that the nuclear deal with the States had the full approval of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who at the time defended Hassan Rouhani’s policies. The approach of Pezeshkian, who has also promised to relax some measures Mandatory Islamic veil In the public space, he has worried his campaign rivals.

The elections are taking place at a time of great electoral discontent – with record low voter turnout figures in the last two elections – which analysts believe is being driven by the economic crisis and growing disillusionment with the current system. massive anti-government protests of the year 2022. Pezeshkian’s campaign has shaken up the electoral campaign and given the reformist sector some hope to attract citizens to the polls. “I have come to solve your problems, to be the voice of those whose voices are not heard,” Pezeshkian declared at a rally. “The trouble of Generation Z we are. They want change but we haven’t changed“ he assured.

Recent investigations by the United Nations Atomic Agency (IAEA) showed that Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium have increased by 60% in recent months. And they keep growing. Their level of growth could quickly reach 90%, which is a substantial amount Evolve weapons. However, Tehran has insisted that its nuclear program is the only Peaceful purposesInternational agency warned that Iran could do this Build three nuclear weapons in a few weeks If you decide so, head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossihas urged the Persian country not to add “nuclear weapons to the Middle East cauldron”, following a failed bid to establish regular control and access to Iranian nuclear facilities.

France, Germany and the United Kingdom recently condemned it “Complementary expansion” of the Iranian program.Tehran decided to add hundreds more centrifuges to its nuclear facilities to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium. Iran called the move a “non-constructive approach” and blamed European countries for it “End the nuclear deal” and bring both sides back to normal. “As repeatedly declared, Iran’s nuclear program has always been purely peaceful and nuclear weapons have no place in Iran’s military and defense doctrine,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

For its part, the United States has taken a prudent stance in recent months and has not joined the complaint, while continuing indirect negotiations Omani mediation.Like Tehran, Washington hopes to hold an election to choose between stability or change.