Praise and Disdain for Iran’s new Hardline president

Hereunder are some early world reactions to the election of Ebrahim Raisi as president of Iran. Raisi, 60, is a hardline judge who is loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and subject to U.S. sanctions for alleged human rights abuses. VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Putin congratulated Raisi and expressed hopes for the “further development of a constructive bilateral cooperation,” according to RIA news agency citing a press officer at the Russian Embassy in Tehran. RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN TEHRAN AS QUOTED BY RIA “We respect the choice of the Iranian people. We are ready to consistently strengthen cooperation with the…