Guardian Council Approves 6 Presidential Election Candidates; Ahmadinejad Rejected

Iran’s Guardian Council approved the qualifications of six candidates for Iran’s presidential election. Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s current president, and Ebrahim Raisi are among the approved candidates, but former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s qualifications were not approved.

Iran’s Ministry of Interior announced the names of qualified candidates on Thursday night, the 31st of Farvardin, as follows:

1- Seyyed Mostafa Agha Mirsalim

2- Ishaq Jahangiri Koushayee

3- Hassan Rouhani

4- Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi Sadati

5- Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf

6- Seyyed Mostafa Hashemi Taba

According to Iran’s Islamic Republic Constitution, the Guardian Council is responsible for overseeing elections. This council typically selects a few candidates from among the nominees to compete, and in the eighth presidential election in 1401 [2022], the council approved ten candidates.

Disqualification based on preference is the main criticism against the Guardian Council. Some international bodies and the United States consider this council’s actions to be in contradiction with free and fair elections.
In the same election, Mohammad Gharazi’s qualifications were rejected despite being approved in the previous period.

Ahmadinejad’s Disqualification

The most prominent candidate in this round was disqualified by the Guardian Council: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former president of Iran. Mr. Ahmadinejad, who served two terms as Iran’s president from 1405 to 1412 [2005 to 2013], was disqualified by the Guardian Council for this election round.

Thus, he joined the ranks of disqualified former presidents. Among Iran’s former presidents, Abolhassan Banisadr fled Iran. Mohammad Ali Rajai was killed. Apart from Ali Khamenei, who is Iran’s current leader, all other Iranian presidents have faced restrictions after their terms.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who served two terms as president from 1368 to 1376 [1989 to 1997], was disqualified by the Guardian Council in the 1392 [2013] election.

Mohammad Khatami, who served as president from 1376 to 1384 [1997 to 2005], was never disqualified in any election, but faced limitations. For example, he is banned from appearing on Iranian television and is not allowed domestic travels.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who served eight years as president, was disqualified in this election.

Source: Voice of America