The Iranian Interior Ministry has released the final list of candidates qualified to run in the forthcoming presidential election.
Iran’s Interior Ministry on Thursday night gave the following list of eligible candidates vetted by the Guardian Council: the current President Hassan Rouhani, the first vice president Es'haq Jahangiri, the mayor of Tehran Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, the chief custodian of Astan Quds Razavi, the organization managing the affairs of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi, an ex-minister of culture and Islamic guidance Mostafa Aqa-Mirsalim and a former minister of industries Mostafa Hashemitaba.
The vetting body was examining the qualifications of more than 1,600 candidates who registered to run for president for days.
The senior research fellow of the Department of Near and Middle East at the Institute for Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lana Ravandi-Fadai, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that the most interesting is the presence of Ebrahim Raisi on the list, who is one of the main candidates for the post of the next supreme leader of Iran. "Ebrahim Raisi is an Islamic conservative cleric, who says, for example, that Hezbollah must be actively supported, as well as urges to build a global Islamic civilization based on the affirmation of shahidism and the Shia principles. I do not think his candidacy will be chosen in the elections, as he is not a well-known figure," she noted.
In her estimation, despite the growing number of dissatisfied with the reformist course of the incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, he still has the best chances of winning election. "I hope he will win despite the people's discontent, which was mainly caused by the fact that not all of his promises given during the previous election campaign have been fulfilled. It should be emphasized that Hassan Rouhani's victory in the new elections will be winning for all of us. After it he will begin to pursue a moderately conservative policy as a response to the policy of US President Donald Trump towards Iran," Lana Ravandi-Fadai drew attention.
Speaking of other candidates, she said that their successes will depend on the upcoming debate. "For example, if we talk about Qalibaf, he scored an insufficient number in the last elections. I also do not think that Jahangiri is popular enough among the people," the orientalist explained.
"Of course, very much will depend on Friday's imams in small towns and villages that will call for voting for a certain candidate," the senior research fellow of the Department of Near and Middle East at the Institute for Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences expects.
Iran will hold the 12th presidential election on May 19.
