- Iran’s incoming president, Ebrahim Raisi, has been personally sanctioned by the United States for allegations of human rights violations during his past as a judge.
- Raisi insisted that he was sanctioned only because of his work.
- The leader will be sworn in on Thursday.
Iran’s tough incoming President Ibrahim Raisi said on Tuesday that after winning the official support of the country’s top leader, he will take steps to lift the “brutal” sanctions imposed by the United States and take office later this week.
Reisi was personally sanctioned by the United States for allegations of human rights violations during his past as a judge. He promised to improve the living conditions of Iranians. Since Washington re-imposed sanctions on Iran after Washington abandoned the nuclear agreement in 2018, the living conditions of Iranians have been deteriorating.
“We will seek to lift the brutal sanctions imposed by the United States,” Raisi said in a televised speech. He was elected in June to replace the pragmatist Hasan Rouhani. In a poll, other well-known candidates were banned from running.
Since April, Iran and the six major powers have been negotiating to restart the nuclear agreement. Iranian and Western officials said that there is still a major gap. The sixth round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington in Vienna was adjourned on June 20, and the two sides have not yet announced when they will resume.
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final decision on all national affairs, but the change of president will eliminate Rouhani’s easing influence on policy making since 2013.
Raisi will be sworn in on Thursday and will then have one week to submit a vote of confidence to the Cabinet in Parliament.
Reisi was appointed to the judiciary by Khamenei in 2019, and a few months later was sanctioned by the United States for his role in the execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988. Iran has never admitted to killing.
For the first time since his election, the 60-year-old Lacey has publicly responded to these allegations, saying that the sanctions imposed on him by the United States were due to his work as a judge. Dissidents worry that his presidency may lead to more repression in the country.
