Iran FM Zarif Displays Support for Assad Regime
Posted by Scott Lucas | May 13, 2021 |
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Bashar al-Assad, Damascus, Syria, May 12, 2021
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has displayed Iran’s support for Bashar al-Assad, visiting Damascus as Syria’s regime is mired in economic crisis.
Zarif met Assad on Wednesday for the show of unity. The pretext for the discussion was Iran’s “satisfaction” with the regime’s staged Presidential “election” on May 26.
The official Iranian account also cited Zarif’s comments about “the crimes of the Israeli regime in the occupied territories against the defenseless people of Palestine”, amid an escalation of Israel’s bombing of Gaza and Hamas rockets fired into Israeli territory.
Iran begins registering candidates for key presidential poll Candidates vying for presidency in Iran were given five days to register their bid in an election that is expected to revolve around the economy and the fragile nuclear deal. Former Revolutionary Guards official Saeed Mohammad registers his candidacy for Iran s presidential elections at the Interior Ministry in Tehran on May 11, 2021. - ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images
May 12, 2021
The registration of candidates for Iran s June 18 presidential election officially began in the country s Interior Ministry headquarters May 11 and will continue for five days.
According to Iranian media, on the very first day 57 hopefuls showed up for registration. Traditionally, candidates standing valid chances of victory hold off their appearance until only a few hours before the deadline.
Tehran, Iran – Controversial former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has once more signed up to become Iran’s next president, but the anticipated top candidates for the June election have yet to register.
The ultraconservative, who was president from 2005 to 2013, tried to run again in 2017 but was disqualified by the Guardian Council – a constitutional vetting body comprised of six clerics and six legal experts.
Observers say that the divisive figure, who still has followers among some portions of the Iranian population, will likely be disqualified again.
Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei promised on Tuesday to exert zero influence in the June 18 election that will see relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani replaced after fulfilling two terms.