Alireza Zakhani, the current mayor of Tehran and a hardline politician, has officially registered to run in Iran's presidential elections scheduled for June 28.
Known for his conservative stance and nicknamed the “Tank of the Revolution,” Zakhani withdrew from the presidential race in 2021 to support Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on May 19, but is now back in the race.
Zakhani's political career Mohammed bin Salman has courted controversy for his aggressive tactics, particularly towards reformists, and despite his bold statements he has faced harsh criticism from state media, raising questions about his fitness for high office.
Term as Mayor The city is not without its problems, including disputes over city policies such as building mosques in parks and forcing the wearing of the hijab on public transport, which have sparked internal divisions within the conservative camp and the city council.
Zakhani has also been dogged by financial and family scandals — his decision to provide financial guarantees to the city for housing needs drew backlash from several city council members — and personal allegations of nepotism involving his son-in-law and questionable financial dealings by his daughter and her husband with the Islamic Development Organization.
Zakhani's political background includes serving as chairman of the parliamentary JCPOA committee in the 2010s, where he went from being an impartial voice to being a vocal opponent of the agreement.
