Hassan Rouhani

(MEE) — Thousands packed Tehran’s streets on Friday to mourn the victims of two suicide bomb and gun attacks, and joined their supreme leader in accusing regional rival Saudi Arabia of involvement in the assaults.
People in the crowds, some crying, chanted “Death to Saudi Arabia” alongside the more customary “Death to America” and slogans against Israel, as they reached out to touch coffins wrapped in flags and covered in flowers.

Days after his election victory Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has spoken on the telephone to Russian President Putin in a sign of the importance the two leaders attach to the development of relations between their two countries.
The Kremlin has not disclosed which of the two leaders initiated the call.  However since Putin appears to have used the call to congratulate Rouhani on his victory most likely it was him.

By M K Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline | May 20, 2017 Hassan Rouhani’s magnificent victory in Iran’s presidential election, polling as much as 57% of the votes, has once again proved the resilience and vibrancy of the country’s political system. The Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stuck to his word by preparing a level field for […]

Iranian President Rouhani’s solid reelection victory clears the way for Iran to continue its efforts to reengage with the global community and expand freedoms domestically, reports Trita Parsi. By Trita Parsi The Iranian population’s political sophistication continues to impress. Despite…Read more →

Russian President Putin was amongst the first world leaders to call Iran President Rouhani to congratulate him on his re-election.
The Kremlin’s summary of their conversation shows why

The final tally is in and incumbent Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has won a second term.
Rouhani won comfortably with over 58% of all votes cast. His nearest rival, the conservative/populist Ebrahim Raisi received 39%.
Although Rouhani’s opponents had been critical of his perceived lethargy in economic matters as well as saying he did not do enough to help Iran’s poor, ultimately the moderate candidate who has been a steadfast supporter of Syria’s war against terrorism won.

On the 19th of May, Iranians will go to the polls to vote for their next President.
The contest is now more or less of a two horse race as the conservative former mayor of Tehran, Mohammad-Baghar Ghalibaf has just dropped out of the race. A political veteran who came second in the 2013 Presidential election,  Mohammad-Baghar Ghalibaf has decided to endorse the somewhat less well known but even more conservative candidate Ebrahim Raisi.

By M K Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline | April 22, 2017 The ‘known unknown’ in the fateful decision handed down on Thursday by Iran’s Guardian Council on the approved list of candidates for the forthcoming presidential election on May 19 was as regards the candidacy of former president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. That was for three main […]

Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has registered to run in this year’s election to be held on the 19th of May.
He has declared his candidacy in spite of an admonition from Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei who has said that Ahmadinejad’s candidacy would ‘polarise’ Iran.
Ahmadinejad is considered a hardliner both on domestic and foreign policy issues.

A fake news story has been circulating on both mainstream media and alt-media saying that Russia and Iran have issued a joint threat to ‘use force’ in the event of the US targeting Syrian forces again. It was also reported that the issue was quoted as being a ‘red line’, a term generally used by the United States.
This blatantly false story was picked up by the following media outlets
–The Independent