Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian elected Iran's president
Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian has been elected as Iran's new president,
beating his hardline conservative rival Saeed Jalili.
...
...
Dr Pezeshkian, a 71-year-old heart surgeon and member of the Iranian parliament, is critical of Iran's notorious morality police and caused
a stir after promising "unity and cohesion", as well as an end to
Iran's "isolation" from the world.
He has also called for "constructive negotiations" with Western powers
over a renewal of the faltering 2015 nuclear deal in which Iran agreed
to curb its nuclear programme in return for an easing of Western
sanctions.
...
...
In order to stand, both candidates had to make it through a vetting
process run by the Guardian Council, a body made up of 12 clerics and
jurists that hold significant power in Iran.
That process saw 74 other candidates removed from the race, including
several women.
The Guardian Council has previously been criticised by human rights
groups for disqualifying candidates who are not loyal enough to the
regime.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx824yl3ln4o
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