Iran is continuing to expand its nuclear program. Anonymous diplomats told Reuters on June 12 that Iran is installing new centrifuges at its nuclear facilities at Natanz and Fordow, increasing the Iranian capacity to enrich uranium.[15] The diplomats said that Iran is responding to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors censuring Iran on June 5 for failing to cooperate sufficiently with the IAEA.[16] The diplomats noted that the Iranian retaliation to the IAEA Board of Governors censure “is not as big as many had feared.”
This report comes amid other indications of Iran advancing its nuclear program. The Iranian stockpile of 60-percent-enriched uranium increased by over 15 percent from February to May 2024, according to the IAEA, bringing the stockpile to around 6,201 kilograms.[17] Tehran has separately sought to acquire materials for its nuclear program from Niger in recent months. Iran and Niger began negotiating in late 2023 to trade Iranian drones and surface-to-air missiles for 300 tons of uranium yellowcake from Niger.[18] An Iranian opposition outlet reported on June 1 that Iran and Niger finalized the deal, though CTP-ISW cannot verify that report.[19]
Senior Iranian officials, including a top foreign policy adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, have repeatedly threatened in recent months to pursue nuclear weapons, as CTP-ISW has reported extensively.[20] IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated in May 2024 that Iranian officials “must stop” normalizing such discussions.[21] He also called on Iran to “meaningfully engage” with the IAEA so that the IAEA can guarantee that the Iranian nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.[22]
Iranian hardliners are debating and negotiating amongst themselves to unite their faction behind a single candidate in the Iranian presidential election. The faction is concerned that the five hardline candidates risk splitting the vote and inadvertently advantaging the sole reformist candidate, Masoud Pezeshkian. Some hardliners are urging Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf or Saeed Jalili to withdraw in support of the other.[23] Other hardline officials and media outlets are expressing concerns that that the faction is too divided to win the race.[24] Ali Reza Zakani, who is a hardline candidate and the Tehran City mayor, stated on June 13 that candidates who are behind in electoral polls should withdraw in favor of more popular contenders.[25]
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-june-13-2024
Iranian hardline candidate Saeed Jalili launched his 2024 presidential campaign by defining his political platform as a continuation of former President Ebrahim Raisi’s policies. Jalili stated he will continue Raisi’s “neighborhood” foreign policy strategy which focuses on maintaining strong relations with other countries in the region.[42] Jalili previously emphasized that the next government should implement the seventh five-year development plan, which is a Raisi-era document focused partly on curbing inflation, optimizing the state budget, and resolving government debts.[43] Some hardliners urged that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf or Saeed Jalili should withdraw from the race to prevent the hardline camp from splitting the voter base amongst five candidates.[44] Jalili emphasized in a public speech on June 13 that he will remain in the presidential race.[45]
Reformist presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian is adopting an increasingly reformist political agenda likely to bolster endorsements from high-profile reformist individuals. Pezeshkian hosted a conference for his female supporters on June 14 wherein he criticized the regime‘s mandatory veiling policy, stating: “We have been trying to fix the hijab (issue) for 40 years, but we made the situation worse.”[46] Pezeshkian separately advocated for economic reform, particularly to curb inflation, in a televised speech on June 13.[47] Pezeshkian criticized the current economic situation in Iran. Former Iranian reformist president Mohammad Khatami endorsed Pezeshkian on June 13 for the 2024 presidential election.[48] Khatami served as president of Iran from 1997 – 2005.[49] Khatami’s endorsement is not entirely surprising as Pezeshkian served as health minister under the Khatami administration from 2001 – 2005.[50]
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-june-14-2024
The "election" will be held on 28 June https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Iranian_presidential_election