#IRAN: Moderate Defeats Hardliner for President

[world politics news]

Reformist Masod Pezeshkian has been elected as Iran's new president, beating his hardline conservative rival Saeed Jalili.

The vote was declared in Dr Pezeshkian's favor after he secured 53.3% of the more than 30 million votes counted. Jalili polled at 44.3%.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: Repressive President's Death Triggers Widespread Celebrations

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The helicopter crash which killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has triggered celebrations across the Shia nation. He was known to be close to Supreme Leader Khamenei, and Raisi was in line to succeed him.

Strict Islamic laws had triggered protests against the theocratic regime in 2022. But were ultimately unsuccessful. 

Raisi was a hardline cleric close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He previously served as the Chief Justice of Iran.He was part of the 'Death Committee' that executed thousands of prisoners.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

IRAN: Low Turnout In Parliamentary Election

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Iranians are voting for a new parliament in an election marred by frustration over economic woes and restrictions on political and social freedoms.

The election on Friday is the first formal measure of public opinion since antigovernment protests in 2022-2023 spiralled into some of the worst political turmoil since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: Industry Min. Removed Due To Rising Prices

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Iran's parliament voted in an impeachment session on Sunday to remove the industry minister amid soaring prices as the Islamic Republic's economy reels under the pressure of international sanctions. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK:Calls To Revoke Parliamentary Clearance Of Ex-MP Hosting Iranian TV Show

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Parliamentary authorities are facing calls to consider revoking a security pass held by a former Labour MP who now hosts a show on Iranian state TV. 

Chris Williamson was MP for Derby North between 2017 and 2019 and served as a shadow minister under former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. 

He continues to enjoyed privileged access to Parliament by holding one of more than 300 passes doled out to former MPs. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Govt Suspends Business Incentives For Iran Trade

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Germany's government is suspending state measures designed to foster business with Iran due to the repression of nationwide protests in the Islamic Republic, the economy ministry said on Friday.

The suspension will affect export credits and investment guarantees as well as Germany's manager training and trade fair programs in Iran, the ministry said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: Parliament Considers Compulsory Hijab For Women

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Iran's parliament will form a public culture council whose responsibilities will include working on the issue of compulsory hijab, said Gholamreza Montazeri, spokesman for the head of the Iranian parliament's culture committee.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: Parliament Takes Up Bill To Cut Off Internet From The World

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Iranian members of parliament have pushed ahead a controversial bill that would essentially cut off most Iranians from the internet and hand over the country’s internet infrastructure to the armed forces.

On Feb. 22, a special parliamentary committee approved the general outline of the “Bill to Protect Users in Cyberspace,” first introduced three years ago. Last July, members of parliament attempted to push through the bill but decided to pull back after widespread criticism. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAQ: Foreign Minister Says Iraq Won't Join Others in Recognizing Israel

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Iraq doesn’t plan to normalize ties with Israel in the near future, its Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told a security conference in Bahrain over the weekend.

“As for the question, is Iraq going to be part of the Abraham Accords soon? – in short, I can say no,” Hussein said in response to queries from participants at the conference IISS Manama Dialogue 2021 on Saturday.

Other Abraham Accord countries include the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Sudan. 

The Accord is viewed by many as a regional bulwark against Iran. Iraqi politics features several pro-iran parties. Such an agreement might be very difficult to get through Iraq's Parliament, even if it's leaders were inclined to sign it.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: All But One Of Pres. Raisi's Cabinet Ministers Approved By Parliament

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After five days of debates, the Iranian parliament gave its vote of confidence to all the ministers proposed by President Ebrahim Raisi, except for Hossein Baghgoli, who was nominated as minister of education.

Although lawmakers pointed out more than a handful of shortcomings in Baghgoli's credentials and plans, what makes his rejection notable is parliament's determination to prove to Raisi that they are not going to surrender to all his wishes.

Baghgoli is reportedly a relative of Raisi's wife, and the fact that he did not win the vote of confidence while others with credentials at his level got it, signifies a direct message from the hardline parliament to the hardliner president.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: Protests Against Regime After Power Outages

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Some protests in Iran against power shortages turned political, with chants of "Death to the dictator" and "Death to Khamenei."

Pres. Hassan Rouhani apologized to Iranians on Tuesday over massive power outages during a heatwave that have drawn widespread criticism and triggered street protests.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: Hardline Judge Wins Presidential Vote

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Iran's current judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi has comfortably won the country's presidential election in a vote marked by low turnout and calls for a boycott.

Many nations throughout the world noted that the elections were held without international monitors, and questioned its legitimacy. 

Last month, Iran’s Guardian Council disqualified all non-hardliner candidates for the election, including the country’s vice president and a former parliamentary speaker, leaving only seven hardliners as official candidates.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: Seven "Hard-Liners" Approved To Run For President; Six "Moderates" Disqualified

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Iran’s Guardian Council has disqualified all non-hardliner candidates for the upcoming June 18 presidential election, including the country’s vice president and a former parliamentary speaker, shocking the country.

Iran expert Raz Zimmt  of the INSS (Institute for National Security Studies) and Meir Amit Intelligence Center, said this level of disqualifications was an unprecedented “political earthquake” even in comparison to the council’s standard interference with elections.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: Hard-line Cleric To Seek Presidency

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Iran’s judiciary chief, a hard-line cleric linked to mass executions in 1988, registered on Saturday to run in the Islamic Republic’s presidential election next month, a vote that comes as negotiators struggle to resuscitate Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#USA: John Kerry Under Fire For Revealing Israeli Attacks On Iran After Tapes Leaked

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John Kerry, who has been acting as Pres. Biden's special envoy for climate change, is facing calls for his resignation from Republican lawmakers and pundits for reportedly discussing Israeli military operations with Iran's foreign minister when he served as then-President Obama's secretary of State.

Republican blowback is running the gamut from calling for Kerry to leave his position as the top official addressing climate change to calling for an investigation and his prosecution.

The New York Times and other outlets reported on Monday that leaked audio recorded in March captured Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif saying that Kerry told him Israel had attacked Iran's interests in Syria at least 200 times. 

Zarif reportedly expressed astonishment at the revelation. Zarif did not say when Kerry, who served as secretary of State between 2013 and 2017, made the admission. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: Lawmakers Want President Prosecuted For Nuclear Deal Talks

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Iranian lawmakers have called for Pres. Hassan Rouhani to be prosecuted following the recent agreement between the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

During a meeting held to discuss the agreement, an overwhelming majority of lawmakers voted to send a report by the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission on the deal to the judiciary for review.

The report states that the agreement "violates" the "Strategic Action to Cease Actions and Protect the interest of Iranian Nation" law passed by the Iranian parliament in December, which prohibits the government from implementing the voluntary measures under the 2015 nuclear deal as of today.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: Weakened Parliament Enters Election Season, Moderates Disqualified From Running

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Campaigning for Iran’s 11th parliament officially began this week for the Feb. 21 elections. According to Tasnim News Agency, campaigning will last until Feb. 19. The short campaign window and the disqualifications of Reformist and moderate candidates have left the public with many questions as to who is running and under which political faction for the 290-seat assembly.

Over the last few administrations, Iran’s parliament has lost much of its power, often reduced to a stage where partisan issues are debated but rarely resolved.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAQ: Parliamentary "Expulsion" Of US Troops Has Open-Ended "Timetable"

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A non-binding resolution by Iraq's Parliament called for the departure of American troops.
Sunni and Kurdish members of parliament boycotted the session, and the resolution passed with 170 votes of the body's 328 members, just over a quorum.


The resolution said the withdrawal would occur on a "timetable," which was undefined. Kuwaiti journalist and analyst Husain Abdul-Husain notes that in Middle Eastern countries, "timetables mean 'indefinitely.'"

In a letter to Parliament, outgoing Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi stated that it's in the Iraqi interest is to maintain neutrality between America and Iran, and that if Iraq antagonizes America, it risks losing its international status. Despite this, the American media viewed the vote as an affront to the U.S.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Bombshell Video Shows Labour Party Leader Corbyn Decrying "BBC Bias" Towards Israel's "Right To Exist"

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Less than two weeks before the Dec. 12th national parliamentary elections, a bombshell video has surfaced in which then-Member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn (now the Labour Party's Leader) complaining on an Iranian government-backed TV station in 2011 that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is "biased towards" Israel's right to exist.

The video, which was first circulated on Twitter and YouTube, couldn't come at a worse time for the Labour Party and it's Leader. Coming after weeks of pressure on Corbyn to apologize for numerous instances of anti-Semitic statements from members of his party, and his refusal to apologize clearly for it, the video is sure to add more flames to the controversy at a time his party would prefer to be talking about the policies it recently put out in its election manifesto.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: Parliament Bans Acid Attacks, Calling Them "Terror"

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New legislation passed by the Iranian Parliament approved death sentence for perpetrators of "acid attacks aimed at bringing about terror and instability in the society."

Dozens of women in Iran have been attacked with acid in recent years by family members or presumably by hardline supporters of the compulsory hijab. Ministry of Health statistics puts acid attacks at 60 to 70 cases every year.

The legislation still needs to be approved by the hardliner-dominated Guardian Council.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.