Mystery Surrounds Report That Ali Larijani Will Stand for Presidency

Mystery surrounded the state-affiliated Borna news agency announcement that ex-parliament speaker Ali Larijani will run in the upcoming presidential election in spite of Larijani not confirming his intention to run. 

When asked about his candidacy on Monday, the 66-year-old moderate conservative responded, "Let's see what happens." It is widely believed that Larijani is seeking assurances from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to avoid disqualification, a fate he faced during the 2021 elections allegedly due to his daughter's residency in the US.

The elections are slated for June 28 in the wake of the sudden death of Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash on the Azerbaijan border this month, along with the foreign minister and other delegates.

In spite of Larijani's uncertainty, Borna claimed the former Parliament Speaker has finalized his decision and will soon register as a candidate, suggesting the tacit approval of Khamenei who is lining up a roster of allies for the upcoming polls.

Larijani, who has no political party affiliation but has been a prominent figure in the Islamist Principlist camp, has held numerous high-ranking positions appointed by Khamenei, including chief of the state broadcaster (IRIB) and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. He also served as Iran's top nuclear negotiator from 2005 to 2007 and is currently a member of the Expediency Council and an advisor to Khamenei.

Meanwhile, former defense minister Hossein Dehghan dismissed the possibility of his presidential candidacy, stating, "Thank God, the number of people running for the presidential election is so high that it needs to decrease."

Dehghan, an Iranian military officer and former IRGC Air Force brigadier general, currently heads the Mostazafan Foundation, a “charitable” organization that claims to promote the living standards of disabled and poor individuals in Iran. The Mostazafan Foundation is closely associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Candidate registration is scheduled from May 30 to June 3, with the Guardian Council expected to complete vetting within two weeks. Official campaigning will commence after that, leading up to the election on June 28.