Iran's hard-line parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, has officially entered the country's upcoming presidential election, marking the final day for candidates to join the race. Qalibaf's candidacy adds a significant figure with close ties to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard to the list of contenders vying to succeed the late President Ebrahim Raisi, who tragically passed away in a helicopter crash on May 19.
At 62 years old, Qalibaf has a notable political background, having previously served as the mayor of Tehran and currently holding the position of parliament speaker. However, his candidacy is not without controversy, as he has been linked to past instances of violent crackdowns on dissent, including incidents involving Iranian university students in 1999 and 2003.
Qalibaf, who has run for president unsuccessfully in the past, has expressed his intention to continue the policies of Raisi and the late Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, emphasizing a focus on addressing economic challenges such as poverty and price pressures exacerbated by international sanctions.
While Qalibaf's registration signals a new phase in Iran's political landscape, the ultimate decision on the final candidate list rests with the Guardian Council, a 12-member panel of clerics and jurists overseen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The council's selection process excludes individuals advocating for radical changes to Iran's governance or women candidates.
As the presidential election approaches on June 28, other notable figures who have registered include former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former parliament speaker Ali Larijani, and former Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati. The potential candidacy of acting president Mohammad Mokhber and former reformist President Mohammad Khatami also looms, though the final candidate list remains subject to the Guardian Council's approval.
The election comes at a critical juncture for Iran, amid escalating tensions with the West over nuclear activities, involvement in regional conflicts, and internal economic challenges. The outcome of the election will undoubtedly shape Iran's trajectory in the coming years, with candidates like Qalibaf positioning themselves to lead the country through a period of significant uncertainty.
