Many candidates have emerged for Iran's next presidential election, which could become a crowded field with just weeks to go until a crucial vote to decide the successor to the late President Ebrahim Raisi.
Iran will elect a new president on June 28. The election was held after a helicopter crashed in fog in the mountains of northwestern Iran, killing Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian and other senior government officials. Following Raisi's death, his first vice president, Mohammad Mokbel, was named president.
A number of candidates have emerged as possible successors in the upcoming Iranian presidential election, including several with close ties to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Below are some of the key figures expected to run:
- The leading candidate is reportedly Ali Shamkhani, former head of the Supreme National Security Council, who served in that position from 2013 until he resigned last year. Considered a centrist, he signed an agreement in March 2023 to resume ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
- Former parliament speaker Ali Larijani is also a candidate. Larijani is often described as a moderate and reformist compared to other Iranian conservatives, and served as speaker from 2008 to 2020. He ran unsuccessfully in the 2005 election and was disqualified in the 2021 election.
- Mokbel, who currently holds the presidency, is widely considered the leading candidate. Before becoming first vice president in 2021, he headed Khomeini's executive branch, also known as Setad, which is accused of building a vast financial empire for Khamenei through the seizure of assets.
- One candidate is Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, the hardline parliament speaker close to Khamenei, who notably was re-elected speaker on Tuesday.
- Saeed Jalili, Khamenei's deputy on the Supreme National Security Council, announced his candidacy on Sunday. Jalili also ran in 2013, winning more than 11% of the vote, before withdrawing from the 2021 election and backing Raisi.
- Reformist parliamentarian Masoud Pezeshkian announced his candidacy for the position on Sunday. Pezeshkian had tried to run in the 2021 election but was rejected. London-based Iran International on Tuesday described Pezeshkian as “one of the few acceptable reformists.” He served as health minister under then-President Mohammed Khatami from 2001 to 2005.
Other candidates: The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday that former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officer Parviz Fattah, Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakhani and Roads Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash were likely to run.
The following day, the outlet reported that former Interior Minister Sadegh Mahkouri, who served under Ahmadinejad from 2008 to 2009, might run in the election.
Reports suggest that several big names may run in the election, including former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, former Presidents Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Rouhani.
Another candidate is Mohammed Javad Azari Jahromi, who served as communications minister under President Rouhani from 2017 to 2021, according to Iran International.
All presidential candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council, which is controlled by Khamenei.
Click here for details: Ali Hashem told Al-Monitor from Tehran last week that relations with the United States could be a defining issue for the next Iranian president, especially with Donald Trump potentially returning to the White House.
