The top story in all Iranian newspapers today was Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf’s decision to drop out of presidential race in favour of his fellow right-winger Ebrahim Raisi.
The move was widely hailed by conservative media, who praised Qalibaf for the revolutionary decision. Reformist and pro-government papers also called Qalibaf a proxy candidate who just wasted people’s time and public funds for useless campaign.
A gathering in Tehran attended by Iranian ministers of foreign affairs, culture, and oil, and a number of Iranian artists was also a top story today. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s remarks were particularly highlighted today.
The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:
19 Dey:
1- Polarized Competition between Rouhani, Raisi Begins
Abrar:
1- Qalibaf Withdraws in Favour of Raisi
2- Foreign Ministry Spokesman: We’re Not after Tension with Saudi Arabia
3- Al Monitor: Iran Sanctions May Be Waived ahead of Elections
4- Moqtada Sadr Calls for Serious Iran-Saudi Talks
Abrar-e Eqtesadi:
1- Oil Price Decreases in Global Market: Extension of Deal to Cut Oil Output
2- Iran Starts Construction of Ocean Liners after Signing Trilateral Deal
Afkar:
1- Victory is Close: People of Isfahan Rise after Historic Alliance of Qalibaf, Raisi
2- Raisi: I’ll Use Qalibaf’s Potentials in Management
Aftab-e Yazd:
1- Qalibaf Withdraws in Favour of Raisi, to Benefit of Rouhani
2- Citroen Returns to Iran after 29 Years
3- Suspicious Withdrawal [Editorial]
Arman-e Emrooz:
1- Rouhani: People to Repeat What They Did in 1997 Elections [when Khatami won]
2- Raisi’s Proxy Candidate Qalibaf Drops out of Presidential Race
2- Grey Votes to Be Cast for Rouhani
Donya-ye Eqtesad:
1- China Poised to Lead World Business: Beijing Starts Silk Road Diplomacy
Ebtekar:
1- Vice-Speaker of Parliament: Rouhani is Best Candidate
Etemad:
1- He Dropped out of Race after One Month of Campaign!
- Qalibaf Had Run for President despite Earlier Claim that He Wouldn’t Run
- He Finally Withdrew in Spite of His Claim that He Won’t Drop out
Ettela’at:
1- Asia’s Most Equipped Centre of Ion Therapy to Be Constructed in Iran’s Karaj
2- US Jet Fighters Attack Bus Carrying Women in Syria’s Raqqa; 22 Killed
3- Zarif: Breaking Wall of Iranophobia Needs Culture Professionals’ Help
Hemayat:
1- Judiciary Chief: We’ll Strongly Stand against any Move to Disrupt National Security
Iran:
1- Lifting Non-Nuclear Sanctions is Complicated, but Possible: Iranian Spokesman
Javan:
1- Qalibaf Once Again Shows His Jihadi [Selfless] Attitudes
2- Isfahan’s Naqsh-e Jahan Square Becomes Ballot Box
- People Excited about Raisi’s Visit
Jomhouri Eslami:
1- Oil Minister: We’ll Be Indebted to Zarif for Nuclear Deal until End of Our Lives
Ka’enat:
1- One Election, Two Clerics
Kayhan:
1- Big Shock to Save Nation: Qalibaf Withdraws in Commendable Move
2- Hundreds of Yemenis Die of Cholera; Hospitals Have No More Room
3- Government Keeps Making People Afraid of Spectre of War
- Be Accountable for Economic Disaster
Khorasan:
1- Shock of First Alliance
Quds:
1- Qalibaf Withdraws in Favour of Raisi
Setareh Sobh:
1- People of Tabriz Warmly Welcome Rouhani
2- Trump Trying to Disrupt Middle East’s Balance
Shargh:
1- FM: Hard-Liners Wanted to Show Iran as Threat to World Peace
2- Oil Minister: We Need Recovery after Getting Out of Sanctions
3- Actress Motamed-Aria: I’m Happy to Sit beside Those Who Ensured Our Security
Sobh-e Now:
1- Salute to Qalibaf: Campaign Has Just Begun
Vaghaye Ettefaghieh:
1- Strategy of Evading Defeat: Why Qalibaf Allied Himself with Raisi
2- Zarif: I’m Happy to See Farhadi, Kiarostami’s Films, Shajarian’s Songs Watched, Heard in World
