INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Iran will hold a run-off presidential election on July 5 after neither of the top candidates secured more than 50% of votes in Friday’s
polls, the interior ministry said on Saturday.The vote to replace Ebrahim Raisi after his death in a helicopter crash came down to a tight
race between the sole moderate in a field of four candidates and the supreme leader’s hardline protege.With more than 24 million votes
counted moderate lawmaker Massoud Pezeshkian led with over 10 million votes ahead of hardline diplomat Saeed Jalili with over 9.4 million
votes, according to provisional results released by the ministry, Reuters reported.Power in Iran ultimately lies with Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, so the result will not herald any major policy shift on Iran’s nuclear programme or its support for militia groups
across the Middle East.But the president runs the government day-to-day and can influence the tone of Iran’s policy. Related
stories:Iran’s presidential election officially kicks offIranian presidential candidate vows to prevent entry of Afghan migrants if
electedThe post Iran’s hardline diplomat, sole moderate to square off in presidential run-off first appeared on Ariana News.
