Five global stories to watch as the US waits for midterm election results
The United States and Iran are locked in a tussle that the world is watching closely. In a tense election season, the question of which country will ultimately gain greater power in the United States could prove one of the most important elections since 2004: if there is a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, then President Donald Trump’s administration will have to make serious concessions in order to avoid a devastating military strike. If there is an Republicans-led House, it will mean that any deal with the administration will be more difficult and likely more controversial.
But it doesn’t have to be either one; in both cases, Trump and Iran, victory will depend on the results of the Nov. 6 vote.
Here’s a look at the election results that could be important to the international community, but most especially, to the United States, given the unique role it plays in the Middle East region.
Iran
The main narrative shaping the world’s view of Iran has been one of its leaders and its regional ambitions. Under Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, who has been in office since 2013, things have been improving, yet with a lot of work ahead. It has been the first Muslim-majority nation to have a female president, and it has begun to look like a beacon for democratic ideals and regional peace.
But what have been some of the reasons for the election outcome in recent weeks?
Rouhani’s campaign has emphasized its opposition to the 2015 nuclear deal that was brokered by an international community led by the United States. Under the deal, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for the easing of sanctions, and the Iranian currency has been strengthening. But with the election of a new parliament that has a majority of hard-liners in it, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country is headed for a difficult economic adjustment after more than a decade of sanctions-driven economic decline.
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