Following an unexpected death of an all too powerful Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Iran has opened a five-day registration period for interested individuals who wish to run in the June 28 Presidential elections.
Individuals, men to be precise, between the ages of 40 to 75 with at least a master’s degree are eligible to register. All candidates, however, must be approved by Iran’s 12 member Guardian Council, a panel of clerics and jurists ultimately overseen by Khamenei. The panel is known to have never accepted a woman or anyone calling for radical change within the country’s governance.
The registration window will close on Tuesday, June 4. Within the next 10 days, the Guardian Council is expected to release the official list of candidates who will run for Presidency. Following this, the candidates will be permitted to conduct a two-week long campaign to garner support of the citizens before voting takes place in late June.
The front runner?
Iran’s acting president, Mohammad Mokhber is expected to be the front runner. He has already been seen in meetings with Iran’s Supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Former hard line President Mohammad Ahmadinejad and former reformist President Mohammad Khatami are also in the front runner list. Both of whom are unlikely to be permitted to take part.
Other potential candidates include, Former Supreme National Security Council head Ali Shamkhani, Former parliament speaker Ali Larijani and Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf among the list.
On Sunday Saeed Jalili, Khamenei’s representative on Supreme National Security Council and Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist and former health minister have declared their candiancy And will run for President’s office.
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Challenges for the new Iranian President
The last time, an Iranian President died in office- Iran was going through the chaotic days post Islamic Resolution. The then President, Mohammad Ali Rajai had been killed in a 1981 bomb blast.
Fast forward to 2024, the country is one again suffering from a turbulent political landscape and a violent Iranian regime. The late President Raisi had earned the title of ‘Butcher of Tehran’ and ran an ironclad government with stringent laws imposed on women and media. His death was marked by mourning and, ironically, celebrations across the country.
Iran’s history of maintaining bitter ties with the West has escalated a lot lately, resulting in rising tensions between the US and Iran. The country now enriches uranium at nearly weapons-grade levels, going against the international limit of uranium extraction set by the UN, and hampers international inspections. Tehran has formed closer ties with US enemy Russia as it exported arms to Moscow for launching attacks on Ukraine.
Tensions between the Jewish nation Israel and Muslim nation escalated as the latter launched drone and missile attacks on the former amid war in Gaza. Tehran is also allegedly supporting military groups in the Middle East like Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia.
The US sanctions on the country have worsened its economy over the years with rial losing its worth against the dollar each day. Civil unrest marked by widespread protests have swept the country over Amini’s death following her arrest for allegedly not wearing the imperative headscarf. A UN probe found the Iranian government responsible for the “physical violence” that led to the innocent woman’s death.
The upcoming President of Iran will have a lot to deal with, inside and outside the country. His decisions will either save the country from doom, given its critical condition or Iran will face another Revolution.
