The story: Back from Tajikistan, where the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Sept. 17 approved Iran’s application to become a full member, new conservative President Ebrahim Raisi has launched a frontal assault on his predecessor’s moderate administration over both Covid-19 vaccine imports and membership in the Eurasian bloc. In his sharpest criticism since taking office in early August, Raisi has ridiculed the Hassan Rouhani government for allegedly hinging vaccine purchases and SCO membership on the adoption of stalled measures to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist.

The coverage: Speaking on Sept. 20, Raisi stated...