Tehran: Iran commenced the registration of candidates for an early presidential election on Thursday following the tragic death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, as announced by Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi on state TV. Raisi, once considered a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has left a power vacuum that hardliners are now eager to fill.
Following a five-day registration period, the Guardian Council, responsible for overseeing elections and legislation, will vet the presidential candidates. “The vetting process will be seven days, and then qualified candidates will have almost two weeks for the election campaign,” Vahidi stated on state TV. The Guardian Council is set to publish the list of approved candidates on June 11.
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Moderate politicians have criticized the 12-member hardline Guardian Council for allegedly disqualifying their rivals, thereby favoring hardline candidates who are expected to dominate the forthcoming presidential race. This perceived bias, combined with widespread dissatisfaction over numerous political, social, and economic issues, may impact voter turnout.
In Iran’s unique political structure, where clerical rulers and elected officials coexist, Supreme Leader Khamenei holds ultimate authority over crucial state matters such as nuclear and foreign policies. However, the elected president will be tasked with addressing the country’s severe economic challenges.
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Potential candidates for the presidency include Parviz Fattah, a former member of the Revolutionary Guards and current head of an investment fund linked to Khamenei, and Saeed Jalili, a former chief nuclear negotiator who managed Khamenei’s office from 2001 to 2005. Interim President Mohammad Mokhber and former parliament speaker and Khamenei adviser Ali Larijani have also been mentioned in Iranian media as likely contenders. Notably, Larijani was barred from participating in the 2021 presidential race.
Several low-profile moderate politicians are expected to join the race as well, although their chances may be hindered by the Guardian Council’s stringent vetting process.
