Iran has approved six candidates for the presidential election to be held on 28 June, following the sudden death of president Ebrahim Raisi. The Guardian Council selected the six from 80 registered candidates, mostly conservatives with only one reformist allowed. Among the chosen candidates are Massoud Pezeshkian, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Saeed Jalili, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Ali Reza Zakani, and Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi.
Notably, high-profile figures like Ali Larijani and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were not allowed to stand, and four women who registered were disqualified. The reformists in Iran believe Raisi’s faction will likely maintain power. Analysts discussed the election, noting the preference for a weak president to maintain the status quo. Hossein Naghashi highlighted the Guardian Council’s role in vetting candidates and emphasized the lack of prospects for more transparent elections.