Hi, I'm Dan Premat, and welcome to Axios Recap, where we dig into one big story.

Today is Monday, June 21st.

U.S. COVID cases keep going down, but in states like Arkansas, Missouri, they're actually going up.

And we're focused on Iran's new president.

Over the weekend, Iran elected a new president, Abraham Raeisi, who's viewed as a hardline

conservative, even by Iranian standards.

His top domestic issues will be the country's sputtering economy and struggle to contain COVID-19.

Three things to know.

First, this was a historically uncompetitive election because Raeisi's

most serious rivals weren't allowed on the ballot. And voters seemed to know it with the lowest

election participation rate since Iran's 1979 revolution. Two, Iranian presidents served four-year

terms and do have wide-ranging powers. But in the end, it's the country's religious leader,

Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, who has final say on policies. Three, Kamani is 82 years old, and analysts say

the stage-managed election of Raeisi is part of his effort to ensure that conservatives

continue to hold power and protect his legacy after he's gone.

The latest today is that Raeisi says he will not meet with President Biden, despite calling on the U.S. to return to the nuclear deal originally signed by Obama and then rejected

by President Trump.

Right now, we're in a critical moment for that deal, and Rae's election increases the urgency

to get it done in the coming weeks.

So in 15 seconds, we'll go deeper on what Iran's election means for the U.S., its neighbors,

and its own people, with Axios World Editor David Lawler.

But first, this.

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