Iran election: Rafsanjani blocked from running for president

May 22, 2013 03:26

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the leading opposition-backed candidate in Iran's presidential election, was disqualified on Tuesday from standing in a blow to those hoping for significant change when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad leaves office. Iranian state-run television broadcast a statement by the interior ministry on Tuesday night announcing the final list of candidates.

It did not include Rafsanjani or President Ahmadinejad's close ally, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei. Eight men were allowed to enter the race for the election on 14 June, including Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili; the mayor of Tehran, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf; and former foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayati.

Hassan Rouhani, a reformist who is seen as having little chance of victory, was also allowed to run. Jalili is widely seen as the favourite candidate of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Read the full report on The Guardian

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