Ebrahim Raisi won 61.95% of the votes cast in the elections held on Friday. The voter turnout was around 49%

Iran, one of the worst COVID-19 affected countries in the world, has been facing difficulties in getting supplies of vaccines and other medical requirements due to US sanctions

The worst hit country in West Asia, Iran has had a tough time coping with the pandemic amid US sanctions. It has resorted to strengthening links with countries such as Russia and China towards this end

The US withdrew the last set of exemptions provided to some foreign companies to work on Iranian nuclear sites in May, which also marked the second anniversary of Donald Trump administration’s renewed aggression against Iran.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo announced the end of exemptions provided under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal to some foreign companies to work on certain Iranian nuclear sites. The waiver was renewed every 60 days despite the unilateral US withdrawal from the deal in 2018

Ariel Gold of CODEPINK discusses the decision of the US to pull funding from the World Health Organization and the impact that this has on the world

Iran had requested a USD 5 billion emergency loan from the IMF last month to help its fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The US claims the money will be used to fund terrorism in the region

Most of the medical facilities in the country have been affected due to the decade-long war. Conditions in areas controlled by anti-government forces and in the overcrowded refugee camps are especially bad