Mr. Ghalibaf has now stepped aside ahead of Friday’s vote “to ensure unity in the pro-revolution front” and thrown his weight behind Mr. Raisi. However, should the conservative candidate Mr. Raisi win, the Islamic Republic of Iran would take a more closed-door diplomacy pathway. Though Mr. Rouhani’s Iran has arguably been more open economically and politically, business has been slow and unemployment remains a significant factor. That said, despising the West and challenging Mr. Rouhani would not be enough for Mr. Raisi to win the presidential election of May 19. Admittedly, he needs to unify the conservatives against Mr. Rouhani and force a second round.

Source: The Hindu May 16, 2017 18:34 UTC