Following the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s Guardian Council has announced the approval of six candidates for the upcoming presidential election scheduled for June 28.
Among the approved candidates is hardline parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who previously served as mayor of Tehran. Ghalibaf’s close ties to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards and his history of involvement in violent crackdowns on university students and protesters have raised questions about his candidacy.
Despite promises of economic improvement from the candidates, it is important to note that political and economic decisions in Iran ultimately lie with Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei. The Guardian Council, which approved the candidates, is a panel of clerics and jurists overseen by Khamenei.
In a controversial move, the Guardian Council has once again barred the nomination of former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, known for his anti-Western rhetoric and his role in the crackdown that followed his disputed 2009 re-election. This is not the first time Ahmadinejad has been disqualified by the Guardian Council.
The presidential election in Iran typically involves televised debates and allows candidates to advertise on billboards and give stump speeches in support of their bids. However, none of the candidates have yet offered specific policies or plans to address the country’s economic challenges and international isolation due to US-led sanctions.
It is interesting to note that the election comes as Iran faces significant political and economic turmoil. The country’s Supreme Leader remains the ultimate authority, underscoring the complexities and challenges of the Iranian political system.
