ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan today (Saturday) congratulated Iran’s newly elected president, Ebrahim Raisi, on his “landmark victory” in the country’s 13th presidential elections.
Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister said, “Congratulations to Excellency brother Ibrahim Raisi on his landmark victory in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s 13th Presidential elections.”
Congratulations to Excellency brother Ibrahim Raisi @raisi_com on his landmark victory in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s 13th Presidential elections. Look forward to working with him for further strengthening of our fraternal ties and for regional peace, progress and prosperity.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 19, 2021
“Look forward to working with him for further strengthening of our fraternal ties and for regional peace, progress, and prosperity,” the premier added. Congratulations poured in for Raisi on winning Iran’s presidential election as his rivals conceded even before official results were announced.
The other three candidates in the race all congratulated him for his victory, which had been widely expected after a host of political heavyweights had been barred from running.
Millions of Iranians voted on Friday in a contest that has been expected to hand the presidency to Raisi, a 60-year-old senior judge who is subject to US sanctions for alleged human rights abuses.
Raisi is a harsh critic of the West and the standard bearer of Iran’s security hawks. Raisi was appointed by Khamenei to the high-profile job of judiciary chief in 2019.
A US State Department spokesperson said “Iranians were denied their right to choose their own leaders in a free and fair electoral process” – a likely reference to the disqualification of candidates.
