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Ebrahim Raisi is formally endorsed by country’s supreme leader at ceremony in Tehran
President-elect sworn in this week as water shortages add to hardship of inflation and sanctions
Historic low turnout in presidential poll could presage rebellion of an alienated young population
Ayatollah Khamenei and new president Ebrahim Raisi must bridge the gulf between the theocratic regime and Iranians’ aspirations
Many believe the president-elect has ambitions to become the Islamic republic’s next supreme leader
Incoming leader rules out meeting Biden and will ‘not negotiate for the sake of negotiations’
EU and US see diplomacy as key to putting accord back on track
Win by Ebrahim Raisi may be a Pyrrhic victory after boycott by restive voters
Sombre cleric trusted by supreme leader faces challenge of economy battered by sanctions and Covid
Justice chief’s victory means hardliners now control all branches of the state for first time in almost a decade
Hardline candidates are expected to benefit from a forecast low turnout in the presidential election
Eliminations set to depress turnout and destroy credibility of election
Ebrahim Raisi is seen as a corruption fighter in touch with ordinary people
Ebrahim Raisi seen by conservatives as man who can unite population weary of corruption
The country’s political and business elite is being targeted in a drive that some fear could be exploited to suppress reform
Sting of defeat may yet embolden hardliners to resist re-elected president
Iranians hope landslide victory will embolden president to take on hardliners
Reformers sensed defeat would have shut out the chinks of light they had glimpsed
Poll seen as referendum on direction country will take a year after nuclear accord
Economy central as both sides battle to motivate disillusioned voters
Rouhani offers the best chance of more openness to the world
Moscow has an interest in maintaining the status quo in Tehran
Voters on both sides see role in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon as key for national security
Behind the Islamic Republic’s theocrats lies a network of power and privilege
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