Iran’s Guardian Council on Sunday approved the country’s hard-line parliament speaker and five others to run in the upcoming June 28 presidential election, following a helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others.
The council barred former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, known for the crackdown following his disputed 2009 re-election, from running. The approval marks the beginning of a shortened, two-week campaign to replace Raisi, a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The candidates approved by the Guardian Council, a panel overseen by Khamenei, indicate an attempt by Iran’s Shiite theocracy to ensure a smooth election amid tensions over the country’s nuclear program and the Israel-Hamas war. The council continued its trend of excluding women and those advocating for significant changes to Iran’s governance.
The campaign will likely feature live televised debates and other traditional election activities. Candidates have yet to provide specifics but have promised economic improvements amid Western sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program, which is closer than ever to weapons-grade levels.
Presidential decisions ultimately fall under Khamenei’s authority, but presidents have historically influenced Iran’s approach toward the West. The most prominent candidate is Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, a former Tehran mayor with Revolutionary Guard ties. Qalibaf, a former Guard general, is remembered for his role in the 1999 crackdown on Iranian university students and the 2003 order for live gunfire against students as police chief. He previously ran unsuccessfully for president in 2005 and 2013, and supported Raisi in the 2017 campaign.
Qalibaf’s past actions may be viewed differently after recent unrest over the economy and the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, who died in custody for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly. Khamenei’s recent speech highlighted qualities Qalibaf’s supporters view as signaling the supreme leader’s support.
Ahmadinejad, disqualified by the Guardian Council, challenged Khamenei toward the end of his term and is remembered for the 2009 Green Movement crackdown. He was also disqualified in the last election.
The election occurs amid heightened tensions between Iran and the West over its support of Russia in Ukraine and militia proxies in the Middle East. Raisi and other officials were killed in the May 19 helicopter crash, with investigations ongoing and no immediate signs of foul play reported.
