The presidential election in Iran is set to take place on June 28. While many countries will hold elections in 2024, the Iranian presidential election is happening earlier than expected due to a tragic event.
President Ibrahim Raisi passed away in a helicopter crash in May, leading to the need for an earlier election, as required by the Iranian constitution, which mandates the election of a new president within 50 days of the previous president’s death.
80 nominations – 06 approved
Six of the 80 people registered for presidential candidacy have been given special attention.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
One significant candidate is Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a 62-year-old who has served as the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament for the past four years.
Ghalibaf has run for president three times and holds the record for serving as the mayor of Tehran for the longest time. In 2021, he took steps to withdraw from the election by expressing his support for Raisi.
Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi
Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi is a 53-year-old surgeon and Iranian conservative politician. He has served four terms as a Member of Parliament and recently held the position of Vice President in President Raisi’s government. Although he ran for the 2021 presidential election, he did not win.
Saeed Jalili
Saeed Jalili, 58, is a notable figure gearing up to participate in this year’s presidential election. He has garnered valuable experience as a secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and has also headed the team responsible for nuclear negotiations in Iran for four years.
Additionally, Jalili is a two-time presidential candidate, and in 2021, he expressed his support for Ibrahim Raisi.
Masoud Pezeshkian
Masoud Pezeshkian is a unique individual preparing to run for president this year. He is 70 years old and specializes in heart surgery.
He has exceptional experience, having served five terms as a Member of Parliament and four years as the Minister of Health. Masoud is highly regarded for his honesty, directness, and anti-corruption stance.
He spoke out strongly against the Iranian government following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022.
Mostafa Pour-mohammadi
Mostafa Pour Mohammadi, a 65-year-old priest, is preparing to run for president this year. He is best known as a conservative political figure.
Alireza Sakani
Alireza Sakani, 59, has been the mayor of Tehran for the past three years and will also run for president. He is considered a conservative politician and has entered politics under the Revolutionary Guard.
A series of qualifications for presidential candidacy
According to Iran’s constitution, presidential candidates must be religious and political figures of Iranian origin.
They must also adhere to the Islamic Republic’s principles and the country’s official religion. In the decades since the establishment of the Islamic Republic, individuals who may act outside the Supreme Leader’s actions and policies have been deemed ineligible for a presidential election.
A council consisting of six priests and six lawyers selects the relevant candidates. The six priests for that council are personally appointed by the Supreme Leader, and the Chief Justice initiated the selection of the six lawyers.
Rights that women do not have
In the history of the Islamic Republic, no woman has ever had the chance to participate in any of the 13 presidential elections.
This glaring gender disparity has become a focal point in discussions surrounding women’s rights on the global stage. Advocates for gender equality emphasise that Iran’s systemic disregard for women is evident even in its constitution.
Unpleasant history
The elections will be held almost two years after the widespread protests that followed Mahsa Amini’s death in Iranian police custody in September 2022.
Approximately 551 protesters were killed by security forces during the protest movement in Iran, which was dominated by the slogan “women, life, freedom.
” According to the United Nations, most of them were killed by gunfire. However, it is alleged that the Iranian government has avoided accepting responsibility for this massacre.”
Polling station boycott situation
The latest government statistics unveiled startling information about the last parliamentary election. The data indicated that a mere 41 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots, suggesting a profound disillusionment with the political process and the act of voting.
Can we expect a change in the Iranian regime?
The President of Iran does not determine the overall policies of the country’s regime. Instead, these policies are determined by the Supreme Leader and the powerful institutions under his control.
Therefore, it is unlikely that there will be a significant change in domestic and foreign policies without Ali Khamenei’s permission.
Regardless of who wins the presidential election, changing policies in Iran is challenging. Analysts note that because the supreme leader consistently involves himself in essential matters, he ultimately decides on all functions.
No president can change domestic policies, like making it mandatory for women to wear the hijab, without Khamenei’s approval. The Trusteeship Council is a crucial institution in Iran, and one cannot run for president in Iran without the approval of that council.”
