Who Will Be the Next Iranian President?

The Candidates

Ebrahim Raisi

* Current head of the judiciary * Hard-line conservative * Close ties to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei * Considered the frontrunner in the race

Mohsen Rezaei

* Former commander of the Revolutionary Guards * Conservative * Served as secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council under Khamenei * Seen as a potential compromise candidate

Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi

* Conservative * Member of the Parliament * Former head of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs * Relatively unknown outside of Iran

Abdolnaser Hemmati

* Former governor of the Central Bank of Iran * Moderate conservative * Criticized the government's economic policies * Seen as a potential challenger to Raisi

Mostafa Tajzadeh

* Reformist * Former deputy interior minister * Served time in prison for his political activities * Considered a long shot in the race

The Issues

* The economy: Iran is facing severe economic challenges, including high inflation, unemployment, and a shrinking currency. The next president will need to address these issues while also dealing with the impact of US sanctions. * Nuclear program: Iran's nuclear program has been a major source of tension with the West. The next president will need to decide whether to continue pursuing the program or to negotiate a new deal. * Relations with the United States: The US and Iran have been at odds for decades. The next president will need to decide whether to improve relations or to continue the current confrontational approach.

The Election

* The presidential election will be held on June 18, 2021. * The winner will need to receive a majority of the vote. If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff election will be held between the top two candidates. * The president serves a four-year term. The next president will be inaugurated on August 3, 2021.

Conclusion

The Iranian presidential election is a critical event for the future of the country. The next president will face a number of challenges, including the economy, the nuclear program, and relations with the United States. The outcome of the election will have a major impact on the future of Iran.