Iran announces 7 qualified candidates to run for presidency

In this file photo taken on May 15, 2021, Iranian judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi arrives to deliver a speech after registering his candidacy for Iran's presidential elections, at the Interior Ministry in capital Tehran, ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for June. (ATTA KENARE / AFP)

TEHRAN – Iran's Interior Ministry on Tuesday announced the names of seven qualified candidates to run for Iran's upcoming presidential election.

The list includes Saeed Jalili, Ebrahim Raisi, Mohsen Rezaei, Alireza Zakani, Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Albdolnasser Hemmati and Mohsen Mehralizadeh.

Earlier in the day, Iran's Constitutional Council said that the qualification of only seven candidates, out of 592 registered ones, has been approved by the vetting body.

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Raisi, as a principlist candidate, is widely seen as a notable qualified hopeful. Among the disqualified candidates were incumbent reformist Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri and moderate former Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.

According to the Interior Ministry, the election campaign of the presidential candidates officially starts from the date of announcing the names of qualified candidates and will end 24 hours before the election day scheduled on June 18.

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