Rouhani Govt. Accuses Presidential Candidates of Attacking its 8-Year Legacy

Rouhani Govt. Accuses Presidential Candidates of Attacking its 8-Year Legacy
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Rouhani Govt. Accuses Presidential Candidates of Attacking its 8-Year Legacy

Rouhani Govt. Accuses Presidential Candidates of Attacking its 8-Year Legacy

The Iranian government is accusing some presidential candidates of targeting achievements it made over the last eight years under President Hassan Rouhani.

Attacks on Rouhani’s governance coincided with former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declaring he would boycott upcoming presidential elections if the Guardian Council rejects his bid to run the race scheduled for June 18.

“Regrettably, some candidates have based their election campaign on bias, and without taking into account the economic war, unprecedented sanctions, and the coronavirus pandemic,” said government spokesman Ali Rabiei.

Without naming candidates, Rabiei accused some of having entered the electoral battle with a negative attitude but voiced hope for “positive electoral campaigns.”

Rabiei also backed recommendations made by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for ensuring maximum voter turnout and noninterference in who people elect.



Russian Drone Attack on Ukraine’s Sumy Region Killed Seven, Zelenskiy Says

 A view shows a residential building, which was damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine November 18, 2024. (Reuters)
A view shows a residential building, which was damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine November 18, 2024. (Reuters)
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Russian Drone Attack on Ukraine’s Sumy Region Killed Seven, Zelenskiy Says

 A view shows a residential building, which was damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine November 18, 2024. (Reuters)
A view shows a residential building, which was damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine November 18, 2024. (Reuters)

Seven people were killed, including a child, in a drone attack by Russia on Ukraine's northeastern region of Sumy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday.

"Every new Russian strike only confirms (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's true intentions. He wants the war to continue, he is not interested in talking about peace," Zelenskiy said.

The drone attack overnight on a residential building in the small town of Hlukhiv bordering Russia left 12 people wounded, including two children, the military administration of the Sumy region said on the Telegram messaging app.

A video shared by Zelenskiy showed emergency workers sifting through the rubble of the partially destroyed building as search and rescue operations continued into the morning.

The regional military administration said that Russian forces used two drones in the attack.

Ukraine's air force said it shot down 51 drones and lost track of 30 more after Russia launched 87 drones overnight.

Russian forces have pummeled the northeastern region of Sumy in the past months, damaging its critical and civilian infrastructure.

A Sunday missile strike there killed 11 people, injured 89 and cut power in the city of Sumy.