Ebrahim Raisi presidential campaign

Iran's new ultraconservative President Ebrahim Raisi said Tehran backs any diplomatic moves to lift U.S. sanctions but will not bow to pressure, as he took the oath of office on Aug. 5.

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Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi said on June 21 he will not allow nuclear negotiations for the sake of negotiations, in his first news conference since winning election last week.

Congratulations poured in for ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi on June 19 on winning Iran's presidential election as his rivals conceded even before official results were announced.

Raisi won 62 percent of the  votes counted so far, officials said.

Two Iranian political heavyweights, ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi and moderate conservative Ali Larijani, on May 15 launched what may be the main battle in next month's presidential election.

Photo: REUTERS / Carlo Allegri

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is winning in Friday's election, leading by over 4 million votes from his conservative rival, Ebrahim Raisi, Interior Ministry official Ali Asghar Ahmadi said in a televised briefing as the votes were still being counted.