WORLD AT FIVE

Keep calm or confront: Iranian voters have their say on how to deal with the West

It’s a choice between moderates or hardliners — but the odds are stacked against the former, write Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent, and Sevan Kelly in Tehran

A mural on the wall of the former US embassy in Tehran symbolises the continuing distrust of the West — with little evidence that that will change any time soon
A mural on the wall of the former US embassy in Tehran symbolises the continuing distrust of the West — with little evidence that that will change any time soon
GETTY IMAGES
The Times

As his supporters cheered, Hamid Rasaee lifted up a giant purple key, the symbol of Iran’s reformist president, and broke it decisively in two. Four years after he was locked out of parliament after a defeat by moderates, the ultraconservative firebrand was gearing up for a victorious return in elections today.

The clerical regime has dramatically stacked the polls in its favour with the disqualification of thousands of reformist candidates, signalling the closure of hardline ranks in a deepening confrontation with the United States.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final word on foreign or nuclear policies in Iran, whatever parliament says
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final word on foreign or nuclear policies in Iran, whatever parliament says
ALAMY

Victory for the hardliners would spell a decisive end to President Rouhani’s efforts to engage with the West after President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions, dashing his promises of an economic transformation.

Mr