Two Iranian Presidential Candidates Withdraw Ahead of Snap Election: Focus Shifts to Trump in 2024

Iran (Islamic Republic of)
All candidates are focusing on how to handle former President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 election.
Masoud Pezeshkian, the sole reformist, still has a chance of winning but it depends on voter turnout.
The conservative camp is divided between Saeed Jalili and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Two Iranian presidential candidates, Alireza Zakani and Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, have withdrawn from the snap election before it took place.
Two Iranian Presidential Candidates Withdraw Ahead of Snap Election: Focus Shifts to Trump in 2024

Two candidates, Alireza Zakani and Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, have withdrawn from Iran's presidential election before it took place. The snap election will be held on Friday following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. Withdrawal of these candidates does not contribute much to the unification of the conservative camp, which remains divided between Saeed Jalili and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The sole reformist, Masoud Pezeshkian, still has a chance of winning but it will depend on voter turnout. The Iranian presidential candidates are focusing on how to handle former President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 election as his victory is considered a foregone conclusion by them.

Alireza Zakani and Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, two contenders in Iran's presidential election, have withdrawn from the race before it took place. The snap election was called following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. Zakani, the mayor of Tehran, announced his withdrawal on Thursday while Hashemi dropped out on Wednesday night.

The conservative camp remains divided between Saeed Jalili and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Jalili is Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's direct representative to the country's Supreme National Security Council, while Ghalibaf served as one of Raisi's vice presidents and was a former commander of the air force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The sole reformist, Masoud Pezeshkian, still has a chance of winning but it will depend on voter turnout. In previous elections, there have been record low numbers of people heading to the polling station.

Meanwhile, all candidates are focusing on how to handle former President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 election as his victory is considered a foregone conclusion by them.

Mostafa Pourmohammadi believes he can stand up to Trump and handle negotiations with him, while Alireza Zakani insists only he can manage Trump. The topic of the nuclear deal remains fresh in Iran and has been a central theme throughout this campaign due to its past significance and the involvement of former foreign minister Javad Zarif as a running mate for reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian.

Iranians have ample reason to be wary of another Trump presidency. It was Trump who unilaterally pulled the United States out of Iran's deal with world powers over its nuclear program, even though U.N. nuclear inspectors had repeatedly confirmed that Iran was complying with its commitments.

The election is scheduled for Friday, June 28.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if there are any other candidates in the election besides those mentioned.
  • The article does not provide information on why Alireza Zakani and Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi withdrew from the election.

Sources

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Contenders quit race ahead of Iran’s presidential poll as campaigning ends

Al Jazeera Media Network Al Jazeera Thursday, 27 June 2024 13:29
  • Unique Points
    • Two candidates, Alireza Zakani and Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, have withdrawn from Iran’s presidential election before it took place.
    • ,
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (90%)
    The author, Al Jazeera, presents a factual account of the events surrounding Iran's presidential election without employing any formal logical fallacies. However, there are some instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. The inflammatory rhetoric is evident in phrases like 'snap election', 'death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash', and 'divided as two hardliners... fighting over the same bloc'. These phrases are intended to provoke strong emotions but do not contain logical fallacies. The appeals to authority come from quoting the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and referencing his call for a 'maximum' turnout in the vote. This is not a fallacy per se, but it does rely on the authority of Khamenei to provide credibility to the statement.
    • ] Withdrawal of two candidates comes ahead of snap election after death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
    • There were expectations that one would withdraw in support of the other, Khodr said, “but that did not happen”.
    • Ghalibaf... has been parliament speaker for four years, was the mayor of Tehran from 2005 to 2017, and the chief of police before that.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

80%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Iran’s Presidential Candidates Agree on One Thing: Trump Is Coming

The New York Times Farnaz Fassihi Wednesday, 26 June 2024 16:33
  • Unique Points
    • The Iranian presidential candidates are focusing on how to handle former President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 election.
    • Donald J. Trump’s victory in the 2024 White House race is considered a foregone conclusion by the candidates.
    • Mostafa Pourmohammadi believes he can stand up to Trump and handle negotiations with him.
    • Alireza Zakani insists only he can manage Trump.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (30%)
    The author is focusing solely on Trump's potential re-election and ignoring any mention of other candidates or the current president. This selective reporting creates a deceptive narrative that Trump's election is a foregone conclusion, when in reality there are other candidates and polls suggesting a close race.
    • The person who can stand in front of Trump is me.
    • You have to get ready for negotiations.
    • We have to get ready for negotiations.
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The author is focusing on the candidates' statements about Trump and their perceived ability to handle him in negotiations. This is an appeal to authority fallacy as the author is not providing any evidence or reasoning as to why these candidates are better suited to handle Trump than others. However, since this is the only instance of this fallacy in the article and there are no other significant issues, the score remains high.
    • The former president's election is treated as a foregone conclusion, with the six contenders clashing over who is best suited to handling him.
    • Wait and you will see what will happen when Trump comes.
    • We have to get ready for negotiations.
  • Bias (90%)
    The author repeatedly mentions Donald Trump's election as a foregone conclusion and encourages the readers to focus on who is best suited to handle him. The author does not mention President Biden or any polls suggesting that the American election will be close. This can be seen as an attempt to create a narrative that Trump's re-election is inevitable, which could be considered monetary bias if it serves the financial interests of those who benefit from a Trump presidency.
    • Wait and you will see what will happen when Trump comes.
      • We have to get ready for negotiations.
        • You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. The urgent question facing Iranian voters as they go to the polls on Friday, they say, is who is best suited to deal with him.
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        78%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Iran presidency still up for grabs as conservatives negotiate pre-election

        Al Jazeera Media Network Maziar Motamedi Thursday, 27 June 2024 13:31
        • Unique Points
          • Iran's presidential election is drawing closer with two withdrawals, leaving five candidates: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Saeed Jalili, Masoud Pezeshkian, Mostafa Pourmohammadi.
          • Ghalibaf promised to ensure workers’ wages rise on par with inflation.
          • Pezeshkian hit reformist talking points: restoring Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.
        • Accuracy
          No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
        • Deception (30%)
          The article contains selective reporting and sensationalism. The author focuses on the suspense surrounding two candidates negotiating, implying that this is a significant development in the election. However, they do not provide any context as to why these negotiations are taking place or what the potential implications might be. Additionally, the author mentions that no candidate has a clear majority and a run-off is inevitable, but they do not mention that this is actually a requirement of Iranian election law when no candidate receives over 50% of the votes in the first round. The article also sensationalizes some statements made by candidates during debates, such as Jalili's refusal to elaborate on his position regarding women being arrested for not following mandatory hijab rules and Rouhani's accusations against other candidates. These statements are presented as significant revelations without any analysis or context.
          • As Iran’s presidential election draws closer, the field of candidates has become narrow after two withdrawals, with a sense of suspense lingering as the fate of the election hangs on who stays
          • Jalili insisted that the interviewer did not understand the ‘strategic depth’ of the issue and refused to elaborate
          • Rouhani got involved, releasing a video railing against unnamed establishment hardliners – implying Ghalibaf and Jalili, among others – accusing them of harming Iran and its long-term interests just to undermine his administration
        • Fallacies (75%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Bias (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        80%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Even the Iranian Election Is About Trump

        The Atlantic Magazine Arash Azizi Wednesday, 26 June 2024 18:17
        • Unique Points
          • The Iranian presidential election is being influenced by the past relationship between Iran and the US, specifically regarding the nuclear deal.
          • Donald Trump opposed the nuclear deal negotiated between Iran and the Obama administration in 2015 and tore it up in 2018.
          • The topic of the nuclear deal remains fresh in Iran and has been a central theme throughout this campaign due to its past significance and the involvement of former foreign minister Javad Zarif as a running mate for reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian.
        • Accuracy
          No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
        • Deception (10%)
          The author makes editorializing statements and uses emotional manipulation by focusing on the specter of Trump's return to office in Iran's election. He also engages in selective reporting by only discussing the nuclear deal and its impact on Iranian politics without providing a balanced perspective.
          • A specter is haunting Iran’s presidential election—the specter of Donald Trump’s return to office.
          • The topic has been so central throughout this campaign is that Zarif is effectively acting as the running mate of Masoud Pezeshkian, the sole reformist candidate, appearing by his side in TV debates and campaign stops around the country.
        • Fallacies (95%)
          The author makes several assertions in the article that are supported by facts and do not contain any logical fallacies. However, there is one instance of an appeal to authority when the author quotes Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., who carried out the strike that killed Soleimani, stating 'America doesn’t understand the lesson of his death.' This statement does not necessarily follow from the facts presented and is an opinion by McKenzie. Therefore, I cannot give a perfect score but can still give a high score due to the overall quality and lack of other fallacies in the article.
          • America doesn’t understand the lesson of his death.
        • Bias (95%)
          The author, Arash Azizi, repeatedly mentions Donald Trump in the context of the Iranian election and Iran-US relations. He describes Trump's opposition to the nuclear deal and his implementation of 'maximum pressure' on Iran as reasons for Trump being a central topic in the election. The author also quotes Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., who carried out the strike that killed Soleimani, stating that America doesn't understand the lesson of his death. These mentions and quotes demonstrate a clear bias towards portraying Trump in a negative light.
          • Although Trump has been out of the White House for more than three years, he seems to come up more than Joe Biden, and more than other foreign politicians, in debates among the six candidates...
            • He adopted a policy of ‘maximum pressure’ on Iran instead, characterized by intensified sanctions and culminating in 2020 with the assassination of Iran’s best-known general, Qassem Soleimani...
              • Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.: I carried out the strike that killed Soleimani. America doesn’t understand the lesson of his death.
                • Trump vocally opposed the deal, and when he became president, he tore it up in 2018...
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication

                95%

                The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

                Bloomberg News Now Thursday, 27 June 2024 13:32
                • Unique Points
                  • Two candidates, Alireza Zakani and Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, have withdrawn from Iran’s presidential election before it took place.
                  • Approved candidates had less than three weeks to present themselves to the public through debates, televised programmes, campaign rallies and stadium events.
                • Accuracy
                  No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                • Deception (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Fallacies (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Bias (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication