Iran’s New President

18th June 2021- a significant landmark in the Presidential election of Iran as the citizens of western Asian countries voted for their thirteenth President on Friday. One day after the voting ballots had been closed, the total votes reported were 28,933,004 which indicated a turnout of approximately 48.78% - the lowest in history since the 1989 Presidential election. Ebrahim Raisi emerged as the winner as he garnered a total of 17,926,345 votes which, in turn, amounted to a whopping 72% of the valid votes.

Raisi’s Controversial Career Before Presidential Election:

Close observers and followers of Ebrahim’s life are aware of the fact that he is no stranger to politics and being an essential part of the governing body. He has been in the office for various roles in the judicial system of Iran, as the Deputy Chief Justice (2004-14), Attorney General (2014-16) and the Chief Justice (2019-present). Furthermore, he also served as the Deputy Prosecutor and the Prosecutor during the late 1900s and naturally supervised the execution of numerous prisoners.

As many might recall, Ebrahim competed in the political race for the President’s office back in 2017. As a representative of the conservating party Popular Front of Islamic Revolution Forces, he lost to the incumbent President Hassan Rouhani. Due to the part, he played in the execution of political prisoners and as a member of the prosecution committee which is labelled the ‘death committee’, he has been the subject of controversy and speculation and is also labelled as the ‘Butcher of Iran’. Various sources also assert that over 30000 prisoners were killed in mere 5 months. Per his controversial career and actions, the United Nations Special Rapporteurs along with numerous human rights organizations has accused him of atrocities against humanity. This has also been cited as the key reason why Raisi was placed on the sanctions list of the United States as well as the European Union.

Referring Raisi’s win in the election, the Secretary-General of Amnesty International Agnes Callamard released a statement citing how Ebrahim had climbed the political ladder when he should have been investigated for ongoing and consistent allegations of crimes against ‘humanity of murder’, ‘enforced disappearance’ and ‘torture’ was a testimonial to the prevailing impunity in Iran. Other human rights agencies and newspapers have also echoed the same sentiment.

How will Raisi’s office as President affect Iran’s international relations?

Ebrahim’s controversial actions and his position on the U.S sanctions list (as mentioned before) along with the persistent menace of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which is an agreement regarding the nuclear program of Iran will lead to worsening relations with the west.

Proximity with China and Russia

Iran’s growing and developing relations with China and Russia has the whole world concerned. The increasing doubts that China, Russia and Iran will form the unholy trinity come because the Iranian-American relationship has been constantly deteriorating and Iran is in the desperate search of allies. The Economic Times also states that Iran is forming a coalition of ‘Russia-China-Pakistan-Iran.’ It has also been revealed that Iran signed a deal of a whopping $400 billion back in 2020. This deal in question caught the attention of many because it is reportedly the largest deal that China has signed with any country in the past. The aforementioned deal is a clear and strong testimonial to the increasing proximity between the two nations.

As for China, the powerful Asian nation is in search of other potential markets and is keen to foreshorten reliance on the South China Sea. Furthermore, due to the massive aforementioned deal, China will have unlimited access to the supply of oil and the Iranian government will be able to procure funds for the smooth functioning of the country.

The nature of Russian-Iranian relations is somewhat the same as Iranian-Chinese. In addition to benefitting economically and trade-wise, the oil giant has unassailable military ties with Russia. Both the countries are heavily involved in the progression of numerous gas and oil projects in Iran itself and are persistent supporters of Bashar Al Assad’s Syrian coalition which they have been backing with all their ‘military might’.

We can only hope that China, Russia and Iran do not transform into the present-day axis powers.

Relations between Iran and India

As stated by the Economic Times, relations between India and the fuel giant are of utmost importance. It is a known fact that Iran has been a source of both oil and support to the Indians until the oil trade had to be put off due to strict sanctions imposed by the US. In the past, however, relations between the aforementioned nations have been strained due to allegations that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a supreme leader of Iran had been backing terrorism in Kashmir under the guise of ‘freedom struggle’. This, undoubtedly, has not sat well with the Indian government. As The Economic Times cites, the radical attitude of Khamenei which has been the main cause of sour Iranian-Indian relations is shared by Ebrahim Raisi as well. Subsequently, it could be inferred that the relations between India and Iran will not go back to normal.

While Raisi is all set to assume office in early August, his presidency’s impact on diplomatic relations will only reveal itself in time.

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