Iran’s incoming president, Ebrahim Raisi, says he will focus on regional ties, particularly Gulf Arab neighbors. Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi speaks during his first press conference in the Islamic republic's capital Tehran, on June 21, 2021. - ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images July 4, 2021 In his first presser since the June 18 election, Iran’s President-elect Ebrahim Raisi announced that Tehran wants closer regional ties and that priority will be given to improving ties with Gulf Arab neighbors. After Iran fell out with Saudi Arabia in 2016, and the two have been engaged in talks hosted by Baghdad since April of this year.