Iranian reformist wins presidency, beating a prominent hardliner

[Perknose]

Not sure how much of a reformist the mullahs allowed to even run, but better news than otherwise, I guess.

"
Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian, who advocates moderate policies at home and limited engagement with the West, has won Iran’s presidential election, defeating prominent ultraconservative Saeed Jalili.

Pezeshkian won after the vote went to a runoff Friday in a contest that has been defined by low turnout figures. Iranian state media announced the results early Saturday morning. Turnout on Friday stood at 50 percent, just slightly higher than last week’s historic low of 40 percent.

Pezeshkian, who was little-known outside Iran before the presidential campaign, was the sole reformist approved to run."

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

'approved to run' by the Ayatollayouso who calls all the shots regardless of who the figurehead is.

.

 

[Jaskalas]

Just the guy to comfort the world as they prepare the other announcement.

Iran signals a major boost in nuclear program at key site​

Hundreds of new centrifuges would triple Iran’s uranium enrichment capacity at a deeply buried underground nuclear facility.​

 

[amenx]

Just the guy to comfort the world as they prepare the other announcement.

Iran signals a major boost in nuclear program at key site​

Hundreds of new centrifuges would triple Iran’s uranium enrichment capacity at a deeply buried underground nuclear facility.​

I dont blame them one bit. After Trump shelved the 2015 nuclear agreement which they were abiding by under Obama. And after seeing clear grounds for an existential threat posed to them by a reckless Israel with its already well established nuke arsenal. And seeing a potential return of Trump who can be more easily manipulated by Israel into dragging the US into a war with them. It would be stupid of Iran not to establish a major strategic deterrence in light of all that.

 

[Muse]

According to network news his opponent was more committed to ramping up Iran's nuclear weapons threat. This guy was a heart surgeon IIRC, so probably by far the better educated. Good sign for reforms coming, but as noted above, the Ayatollah decides everything (if that's possible). Wacky regime in Iran, for certain.

 

[mikeymikec]

It's worth remembering the riots and winning the vote means something. The theocracy can try to ignore the hostility toward them, but it's still there. Conservatism has to adapt to changing conditions if it's to survive (and no, I'm not suggesting that conservatives are going to get over their delusions).

 

[brycejones]

The power of a reformist president to change much is limited in Iran. For example he has no power over the groups that enforce morality laws like the Hijab law.

In some ways I wish he had lost because another hardliner would have worked to further erode the legitimacy of the current regime. Iran isn't going to significantly change until there is another revolution tossing the religious nuts out of power.