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Iranian election sham will not fool the people
With Iran heading to the polls following the death of president Raisi, STEVE BISHOP assesses the candidates, and warns of a wide and growing gap between the populace and the regime
MORE OF THE SAME? Reformist candidate in Iran’s presidential election Masoud Pezeshkian (bottom centre)

THE presidential election in Iran, following the death in a helicopter crash of president Ebrahim Raisi last month, bears all the hallmarks of manipulation by the theocratic dictatorship under the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader, Ayotollah Ali Khamenei.

The death of Raisi, along with the ongoing wave of protests against inflation, poverty and corruption across Iran, have wrongfooted the regime.  

While the hard-line Raisi maintained his position through the force of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and his close relationship with Khamenei, popular support was always at a low ebb.

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