Ebrahim Raisi’s death pushes Iranian election process into spotlight

Iranians voting in the second round of legislative elections in Tehran earlier this month. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

With the sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi, the Iranian regime unexpectedly finds itself faced with having to hold elections to appoint a successor. The choice for Tehran is whether to allow the vote to be semi-democratic and contested, or risk nothing by ensuring no candidate with any organisation or following stands against the hardliner likely to be chosen as the regime’s preferred candidate.

It is not likely to be a long discussion.