Opposition candidate wins decisive victory in Istanbul re-run election

Euronews reports that Turkey's main opposition won a decisive victory in Istanbul's re-run election on Sunday, dealing one of the biggest blows to President Erdoğan during his 16 years in power.

Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayoral candidate of the secularist Republican People's Party (CHP), won 54% of the vote with nearly all ballots counted, Turkish broadcasters said, while Erdoğan's AK Party (AKP) candidate won 45% of the vote.

Deutsche Welle writes that Imamoglu said his victory marked a "new beginning" for Turkey.

"It was not a single group or party, but the whole of Istanbul and Turkey that won this election," the opposition politician said, adding that he was ready to work with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to solve the problems facing Istanbul.

Yildirim conceded defeat in the election shortly after the first results were announced, saying: "I congratulate him and wish him success." Erdogan also offered his congratulations to the opposition candidate on Twitter.

Trump imposes new sanctions on Iran

The Wall Street Journal writes that the Trump administration ordered new sanctions that aim to freeze the assets of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office and several Iranian military commanders and include plans to target Foreign Minister Javad Zarif later this week.

Reuters informs that Trump told reporters the sanctions were in part a response to last week’s downing of a U.S. drone by Iran, but would have happened anyway. He said Khamenei was ultimately responsible for what Trump called “the hostile conduct of the regime” in the Middle East.

Trump said the sanctions “will deny the Supreme Leader and the Supreme Leader’s office, and those closely affiliated with him and the office, access to key financial resources and support.”

Prepared by Marina Muradyan