Iran News Round Up

Expediency Discernment Council Secretary and former IRGC Commander Mohsen Rezaei stated, “If [conservative candidate Ebrahim] Raisi becomes president, don’t be startled, the Iranian people are full of surprises. [If Raisi wins] the government should congratulate him” in a post on his Twitter account. (Twitter)

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei discussed the elections during a speech on May 17.

• “It is likely that some individuals seek to violate law. However, these sectors - whether the executive, regulatory, or security sectors - are trustworthy and reliable, thank God.”
• “The Islamic Republic has granted us freedom; although, some people are ungrateful and use the freedom they are given to deny freedom exists--this is ungrateful.”
• “The Islamic Republic of Iran is busy preparing for [the] elections in peace and security… This peaceful and calm environment is invaluable.” (Khamenei.ir) (E)

Conservative candidate Hojjat ol Eslam Ebrahim Raisi spoke to a large crowd in his home base of Mashhad on May 17.

• • On taxes: Raisi responded to Rouhani’s commentary on Raisi and the tax-exempt status of the Astan Quds Razavi Foundation. Raisi stated,“This holy shrine is based on devotion, [and] we add value to taxes and all of the participants have been audited and the money which must be given for taxes is given tenfold [the amount] to orphans and the poor.”
  • On sanctions: “You [Rouhani] claimed to have taken away sanctions but the people must judge. We, with the help of the people, removed the sanctions.”
  • On creating jobs: Raisi also claimed that if the government “intends to execute the law,” then “one million jobs will be created.” He added that if “the minimum amount of contraband goods” arrived with every million dollars, “100,000 jobs would be created.” (Tasnim News Agency)
  • The Islamic Society of Engineers and the Committee of the Workers of Iran also announced they are endorsing Raisi’s bid in the election. (Ghatreh) (Tasnim News Agency)

Interior Ministry Election Headquarters Chief Mohammad Hossein Moqimi stated that the Interior Ministry will announce the results of vote counting gradually. Moqimi’s statement follows Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli’s announcement that the Interior Ministry will announce the vote count to the public all at once. Guardian Council Spokesman Abbas Ali Khadkhodei had stated earlier that “the Guardian Council recommends that the result of the presidential election vote counts be made public gradually.” (Press TV) (E) (Press TV) (E)