AP: Iran’s reformist-backed presidential candidate surged to a wide lead in early vote counting Saturday, a top official said, suggesting a flurry of late support could have swayed a race that once appeared solidly in the hands of Tehran’s ruling clerics.
Early vote count in Iran gives Rowhani wide lead
Iran’s nuclear ambitions demand urgent reaction from international community
Washington Post: Perhaps, after nearly a decade of stalled negotiations, the world has become numb to Iranian intransigence, a policy that is unlikely to change no matter who wins the country’s presidential election.
Assad prepares offensive as Obama promises rebels arms
Bloomberg: Regime forces supported by fighters from the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah have moved north after defeating rebels in al-Qusair, a setback that triggered concern in Washington that Iran and its Lebanese ally are tipping the balance in favor of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
Iran’s Khamenei urges large election turnout, takes swipe at U.S
Reuters: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged a large turnout in presidential elections on Friday, and said he did not “give a damn” about U.S. suggestions that the ballot was unfair.
Iran votes in key presidential contest
AFP: Iran chooses a new president Friday in an election the reformists hope their sole candidate will win in the face of divided conservative ranks, four years after the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
British lawmakers back Iranian resistance
Scoop: Ahead of major international gathering of Iranians in Paris on June 22, ‘Onward to Freedom’, British lawmakers back Iranian Resistance and express ‘deep concern’ for dissidents in Iraq.
Canada urges Iranians to make voices heard in election
AFP: Calling Iran’s presidential election a “sham,” Canada’s top diplomat urged Iranians Thursday to “make their voices heard” by casting protest ballots, boycotting the vote or using satire to express criticism.
Social media abuzz as Iran heads to poll
AFP: The social networking websites which helped mobilise anti-regime protests in 2009 are buzzing again — this time urging Iranians to be sure to vote on Friday when Iran elects a new president.
Hardliners still split as Iran election campaign ends
Reuters: Campaigning in Iran’s presidential election ended on Thursday, a day before the vote in which the sole moderate candidate has an outside chance of stealing victory from his hardline rivals.
Azerbaijan to try 29 over Eurovision plot
AFP: The ministry said at the time that the group had links with neighbouring Iran and was planning attacks on the concert hall where Eurovision was held, police buildings, hotels used by foreigners, mosques and other religious sites in the Caucasus state.
