Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, a former Vice President under Ebrahim Raisi, withdrew from Iran’s presidential race, urging unity among hardliners. His exit leaves five candidates, with analysts viewing the election as a three-way contest between hardliners Saeed Jalili and Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, and reformist Masoud Pezeshkian. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has emphasized high voter turnout while cautioning against ties with the U.S. amid economic challenges and regional tensions. Public apathy prevails in Tehran, influenced by economic hardships and discontent over government policies.
Iranian Presidential Candidate Withdraws, Hardliners Coalesce Ahead of Election
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