A spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reiterated last week that the IRGC would refrain from any involvement in the electoral process, despite the fact that most of the candidates have close ties to the group.
Ramezan Sharif stressed that the IRGC remains neutral and does not support or oppose any candidate, but although the IRGC has officially denied fielding a candidate in Iran's next presidential election, the majority of candidates appear to maintain close ties with the organization.
Even when a president is not allied with the IRGC, its influence remains significant: Former President Hassan Rouhani famously lamented the IRGC's widespread control over the political, military and economic spheres, calling it a “shadow government with guns.”
He once described them as “a government that wields both military might and control of the media, with an unparalleled grip on power and leaving little room for challengers.”
This election cycle This underscores the IRGC's pervasive influence, as most of the six handpicked presidential candidates have strong ties to the IRGC through personal or staff ties.
Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf
Mohammed Bagher GhalibafHis involvement with the IRGC dates back to his early years, when he formally joined the group in 1980 at the age of 19, serving until 2005.
He held various senior positions within the IRGC, including deputy commander of the Basij, commander of the Khatam Al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, and commander of the IRGC Air Force.
During his time as head of the IRGC air force, clashes with the army broke out over land seizures, leading to his forces resorting to violence that left one army soldier dead.
As speaker of parliament, Ghalibaf promoted the IRGC's financial interests, in one instance reportedly replacing the central bank governor to make it easier for the IRGC to raise funds during President Ebrahim Raisi's term in 2023.
Audio recordings leaked in February 2022 revealed conversations between senior Revolutionary Guards generals, exposing a major corruption scandal. Ghalibaf during his term as mayor of Tehran.
The funds in question were primarily earmarked for the IRGC's covert overseas operations arm, the Quds Force, which has significant economic power within Iran, but they were also caught up in municipal deals with Yas Holdings, a subsidiary of the IRGC's Cooperative Foundation, which provides services, sales and subcontracting in the housing sector.
During his term, he oversaw the passage of the Strategic Action to Lift Sanctions and Protect Iran's National Interests Act in Congress, which mandated aggressive measures to accelerate Iran's nuclear program and limit International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) oversight.
In March, IRGC Aerospace Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh praised Ghalibaf for his pivotal role in establishing IRGC missile bases, calling him a “revolutionary” and someone with an “indomitable spirit.” He stressed that the country's economy needs “jihadist managers” like Ghalibaf.
Ghalibaf's presidency would mark the first time a former senior career IRGC commander has held that position under Khamenei, and would safeguard the IRGC's interests in the event of Khamenei's death in office at age 85.
Alireza Zakhani
Alireza Zakhani is not a military man like Ghalibaf, but is best known for his role in leading the IRGC's Student Basij Organization (SBO).
Alireza Zakhani has held various positions within the Islamic Republic, including leader of the SBO, member of parliament, chairman of the Parliamentary Studies Center, and currently mayor of Tehran.
Known for his conservative views and nicknamed the “Tank of the Revolution,” Zakhani is re-entering the presidential race after withdrawing his 2021 candidacy to support Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash last month.
He is subject to UK sanctions over alleged serious human rights violations in Iran.
Though he never wore a military uniform, Zakhani, who served as campaign manager for Ghalibaf's defeated 2005 presidential election, sought to rule Tehran with military-like tactics, as evidenced by the establishment of IRGC- and Basij-led bases in the city.
He has also received support from figures like former Revolutionary Guard commander and current member of parliament, General Esmail Kothari, in controversial decisions such as building a mosque in the park.
Lotophora Forzande Mr. Forzandeh, who is running Mr. Zakhani's campaign, is currently Tehran's deputy mayor for finances. His appointment raised concerns that he would misuse city resources for personal political gain.
Forzandeh served as commander and deputy commander of the IRGC until 1992. He is also known as one of the founders of the Association of Followers of the Islamic Revolution, a group of former Iran-Iraq war commanders that has wielded considerable influence in elections since the early 2000s and was instrumental in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's rise to power in Tehran and the presidency.
Said Djalili
Saeed Jalili earned the nickname “Living Martyr” after he lost a leg during the Iran-Iraq War while serving at SBO.
Throughout his career, Jalili has held a number of key positions, from the Supreme Leader's Office to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
These positions include director of the Inspection Department of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, director of the Foreign Ministry's US Affairs Department, senior director in Khamenei's office, deputy foreign minister for European and US affairs, secretary of the National Security Council, and the supreme leader's personal representative on the National Security Council.
While Jalili belongs to the fundamentalist faction, he lacks the clear organizational ties to the IRGC that Ghalibaf and Zakhani have.
According to the leaked audio, former IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani was unhappy with Jalili's management style, but IRGC media outlets such as Fars, Tasnim, Javan, and Ofok TV maintain good relations with Jalili.
Mohsen Mansouri, who is running Jalili's campaign, has strong ties to the IRGC. As governor of Tehran province and chairman of the province's security council, he appointed IRGC commanders to key positions. Mansouri also funneled resources to the IRGC in his position on Jalili's campaign, appointing Rahim Agdam, commander of the Quds Force and a close aide to Qassem Soleimani, to his team.
Mostafa Pourmohammadi
Mostafa Pourmohammadi, the only cleric authorized to run for president in 2024, is infamous among Iranians for his role alongside Raisi in the 1988 death committees that authorized the execution of thousands of political prisoners.
He maintains good ties with the IRGC and has appointed serving IRGC commanders to government positions.
Pourmohammadi served as a minister in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's first cabinet term. One of his first appointments was Mohammed Bagher ZolgaddaHe appointed the then-IRGC deputy commander as his deputy.
Pourmohammadi reportedly revealed election fraud to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, without Ahmadinejad's knowledge, which led to him being dismissed as interior minister in 2008.
He then defended the IRGC against President Ahmadinejad's criticism.
In 2011, when President Ahmadinejad referred to the IRGC’s illegal activities as “smuggling brothers” and referred to the illegal ports, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, then head of the IRGC, claimed: Illegal docking is prohibited was present in the country.
Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi
Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi is a physician and former member of parliament who served as the party's presidency and first deputy chairman. He ran unsuccessfully for presidency in 2021. Ebrahim Raisi subsequently appointed him vice president and head of the Martyrs and Veterans Affairs Foundation, an Iranian quasi-state organization that is under sanctions for funneling funds to terrorist organizations, particularly Hezbollah.
As head of the Martyrs and Veterans Affairs Foundation, Ghazizadeh Hashemi naturally maintained business ties with the IRGC’s Quds Force.
Mohammed Reza Mir-Shamsi, head of Ghazizadeh Hashemi's election headquarters, Relatively unknown person He previously served as vice president for political affairs at Imam Hossein University, which is affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards.
Massoud Pezechkian
Massoud Pezeshkian, a cardiac surgeon and former health minister in the government of Mohammed Khatami, is the only “reformist” candidate available in the elections.
While he appears to have fewer ties to the IRGC than other lawmakers, he and fellow lawmaker Ghazizadeh Hashemi wore IRGC uniforms along with other lawmakers in a show of solidarity with the IRGC the day after then-U.S. President Donald Trump designated the group a terrorist organization.
December 2022, University LecturesIn 2014, he responded to a student who criticized his choice to wear the IRGC uniform by saying, “Without the IRGC, the country would be divided and our job would be over.”
