Rivals Unite to Oust Rouhani as Iran Election Enters Final Days
- Qalibaf exit effectively leaves Raisi, Rouhani in two-man race
- Raisi election victory may exacerbate tensions with U.S., Gulf
Where the Candidates Stand in Iran's Election
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Iran’s presidential election shifted toward a straight fight between moderate incumbent Hassan Rouhani and a leading conservative cleric, a contest that polls suggest is too close to call.
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the 55-year-old mayor of Tehran who lost to Rouhani in 2013, withdrew his candidacy on Monday and called on his backers to switch allegiance to Ebrahim Raisi. A survey by the state-affiliated Iranian Students Polling Agency last week showed the potential implications: support for Rouhani was at 42 percent, with Raisi on 27 percent and Qalibaf at 25 percent.