Episode Notes:

Iranians took to the polls today to elect a new president to replace incumbent Hassan Rouhani in a contest that many consider to be rigged. The final candidates were all approved by the Guardian Council, an unelected body closely aligned with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s current chief justice known for his hardline views and role in the execution of thousands of political prisoners in the 1980s, is assumed to be the clear favorite to succeed Rouhani.

Henry Rome —  a senior analyst at the Eurasia Group focusing on Iran and Israel — joins the Warcast to discuss the latest from Iran.

[ 01:01] Key takeaways

[03:20] Who is Ebrahim Raisi?

[ 05:31] Impact on how foreign and defense policy