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TOP OF THE AGENDA
Incumbent Rouhani Faces Hard-Liner in Iranian Election
Iranians vote on Friday in the country’s first presidential election since striking a 2015 deal with foreign powers to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The contest pits the incumbent, President Hassan Rouhani (BBC), against Ebrahim Raisi, who is viewed as close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (WSJ). Rouhani, considered the “centrist” candidate by Iranian analysts, has campaigned on his record of opening up Iran’s economy following years of isolation prior to the nuclear agreement. Raisi, a hard-liner, has heavily criticized Rouhani’s economic stewardship in the aftermath of the deal. He has also promised more government handouts to low-income Iranians. High voter turnout (Reuters) is expected following long queues Friday morning.
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ANALYSIS
“The election is widely seen as a referendum on the direction the Islamic republic will take a year after the nuclear accord was implemented and many sanctions on the country lifted. Will Iran continue its tentative opening to the outside world and further ease social and political restrictions at home, or will it revert to more hostile foreign relations and greater domestic suppression?” Najmeh Bozorgmehr writes for the Financial Times.
“Whatever is left of the reformist coalition that once shook up Iran’s politics has been limited to supporting the incumbent, President Hassan Rouhani. Although he hardly shares their agenda—his first four years in power did little to advance human rights—many reformers feel that he is superior to the alternatives,” writes CFR’s Ray Takeyh.
“If there is a fair election Rouhani will most likely win, and then we can expect a barrage of newspaper stories about how Iran is moderating, modernizing, and changing—so we must not push it too hard, and should instead help Rouhani improve Iran’s economy. This is the 2017 equivalent of arguments about helping ‘moderates in the Kremlin’ at the height of the Cold War and equally foolish,” writes CFR’s Elliott Abrams in Politico Magazine.
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SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA
UN Court Orders Pakistan to Stay Indian Officer’s Execution
The International Court of Justice ordered Pakistan not to execute an Indian naval officer convicted of espionage (RFE/RL) pending the outcome of a case filed by India over the conviction. Pakistan had said the case was a national security concern (Hindustan Times) and the court did not have jurisdiction over it.
BANGLADESH: Authorities arrested twenty-seven men (AP) on suspicion of homosexuality, a crime in Bangladesh. However, police plan to charge the men with drug offenses after finding illegal drugs in their possession.
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MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
U.S.-Led Coalition Strikes Pro-Government Forces in Syria
The U.S.-led coalition struck Syrian forces and regime allies (WSJ) on Thursday as they neared U.S.-backed rebels near the Jordanian border, marking a rare intentional strike against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government. Russia called the air strike “unacceptable” (Reuters).
CFR’s Steven A. Cook looks at what President Trump faces in Syria in Salon.
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UNITED STATES
McCain Calls for Turkish Ambassador’s Expulsion
U.S. Senator John McCain called for the expulsion of the Turkish ambassador to the United States after Turkish guards attacked protesters outside the ambassador’s residence during a visit by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Guardian).
Presidential advisor Jared Kushner called the chief of Lockheed Martin to ask if the company would lower the price of a radar system (NYT) Saudi Arabia seeks to purchase, according to several administration officials. The Trump administration hopes to finalize a weapons sale worth $110 billion before the president’s weekend visit to Saudi Arabia.
CFR’s Paul B. Stares and Helia Ighani discuss stability in Saudi Arabia in this Expert Brief.
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