Iran has opened a five-day registration period for candidates seeking to run in the 28 June presidential election to replace Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash earlier this month, Irish Examiner reports.
The election comes as Iran grapples with the aftermath of the May 19 disaster, with heightened tensions between Tehran and the US and protests, including over the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, sweeping the country.
While supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 85, retains ultimate authority to decide all matters of state, presidents in the past have tilted the Islamic Republic of Iran toward closer engagement or increased hostility with the West.
Individuals between the ages of 40 and 75 with at least a master’s degree will be registered as potential candidates within five days.
All candidates must be endorsed by Iran’s 12-member Guardian Council, a panel of clerics and jurists headed by Ayatollah Khamenei. The council has never accepted women or anyone calling for radical changes in the country’s governance.
Registration period has started
Interior minister Ahmad Vahidi opened the registration period. The Interior Ministry, responsible for the country’s police force, is conducting Iranian elections without significant international observation. The minister said:
“These elections, like the parliamentary elections, will be held in complete safety and health, with good competition and wide participation of all dear people.”
Who will run remains in doubt for now.
Acting President Mohammad Mokhber, formerly behind the scenes, could be the first contender, as he has already been seen meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei.
Hardline former president Mohammad Ahmadinejad and former reformist president Mohammad Khatami are also being discussed as possible contenders – but whether they will be allowed to run is still a question.
The five-day registration period will end on Tuesday. The Guardian Council is expected to announce the final list of candidates within 10 days after that. This will allow for an abbreviated two-week campaign before the vote at the end of June.
