Tehran, 26 June 2024– In the wake of the tragic death of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19, Iran is set to hold a presidential election on Friday, June 28, to elect his successor. The Guardian Council, known for its stringent vetting process, has approved six candidates, with those loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dominating the field.

The Guardian Council selected five hard-line candidates and one lesser-known moderate from an initial pool of 80 interested individuals. The final list includes:

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf: The current Speaker of Iran's Parliament and a former commander of the influential Revolutionary Guard. Qalibaf, 62, has run for president twice before and withdrew once in favor of Raisi. He is an ally of Khamenei and a prominent figure among the hard-liners.

Saeed Jalili: A radical diplomat and former Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. Jalili lost his right leg during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s and has represented Iran in nuclear talks with international parties.

Masoud Pezeshkian: The sole moderate candidate, a 70-year-old doctor and five-time Member of Parliament. Pezeshkian has the backing of Iran's reformist camp, which advocates for improved relations with the West.

Mostafa Pourmohammadi: The only cleric among the candidates, he served as Minister of Interior during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's first term as president.

Alireza Zakani: The hard-line mayor of Tehran for three years and a former lawmaker who was previously disqualified from running for the presidency in 2013 and 2017.

Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi: The current Vice President and head of the Shahid Foundation, Ghazizadeh-Hashemi is a radical politician who ran unsuccessfully in the 2021 presidential election.

Polling indicates that Qalibaf, Pezeshkian, and Jalili are the leading contenders. However, Pourmohammadi, Zakani, and Ghazizadeh-Hashemi continue to actively campaign.

Supreme Leader Khamenei has not publicly endorsed any candidate. In a televised speech on Tuesday, Khamenei, a staunch anti-Westerner, emphasized the importance of electing a president who does not rely on American support. His advisor, Yahya Rahim Safavi, urged voters to choose a candidate whose views align with the Supreme Leader and who would consider himself second in command.

The election campaign officially began on June 12 and will continue until June 27. Under Articles 131 and 132 of the Iranian Constitution, a new president must be elected within 50 days of a president's death or incapacitation.

As Iran prepares to vote, the nation and the world are watching to see who will emerge as Ibrahim Raisi's successor. Will it be Qalibaf, Jalili, Pezeshkian, or another candidate who takes the helm of the Islamic Republic?