In the wake of President Ebrahim Raisi’s death, Iran is set to hold a new presidential election on June 28. This election has drawn significant attention from observers keen to analyze the candidates’ profiles, their chances and the influence of key political figures within the system.

Official support for a two-state solution has been the cornerstone of US diplomatic engagement in the Middle East since the 1990s and the beginning of the so-called peace process. Nevertheless, since Oct. 7, 2023, American political influence on Israel has been limited.

On April 1, Israel reportedly struck the Iranian consulate in Damascus, causing the death of Brig. Gen. Mohammed Reza Zahedi, the Quds Force commander overseeing Syria and Lebanon, and six other military personnel, including his deputy Mohammed Hadi Haji Rahimi.