Iran’s Presidential Candidates Campaign Amid Uncertain Popularity

As registration of candidates for the June 28 presidential election started in Iran on Thursday, some of the candidates have issued videos on social media to show off grassroot support.

Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's aides and supporters posted several of such videos even before the registration started.

In a poorly produced video posted by a former Ahmadinejad aide, the former President is seen outside his home in the Narmak neighborhood of east Tehran, surrounded by a small group of supporters from Gilan Province. One of the supporters is seen pleading with Ahmadinejad to announce his candidacy to save the country from its current difficult situation. The man claims that thousands would have come to his house if they had known about the meeting.

In another video, that was deleted later, a group of people from the city of Jahrom in Fars province gather at the same place with the same demand. Again, Ahmadinejad said he is summing up the situation and calculating whether to register, which could mean he is waiting for the go-ahead from Khamenei.

Despite Ahmadinejad's perceived popularity for his criticisms of the ruling elite, voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections. In both 2021 and 2024, most voters shunned the ballot box. Official figures for the March 1 parliamentary election reported 40% participation, though many believe the actual number to be lower. Voters are increasingly disillusioned, doubting that the highly stage-managed elections can address their severe economic hardships. Inflation hovers around 50%, and the national currency is near its all-time lows.

On Thursday, one video showed a group of former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili's supporters waiting for him in front of the Interior Ministry, and another video showed him arriving to register his candidacy.

Meanwhile, Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani's team apparently made a propaganda blunder by calling on everyone to invite Zakani to register. Twitter user Mohammad Parsi quoted the statement on Jahan News and wrote that Zakani is in fact inviting himself to become a candidate.

Meanwhile, some potential candidates are trying to generate excitement and speculation about their participation in the election, aiming to stir interest and anticipation around their potential candidacy.

The reform camp that has been doing the same during the past week by trying to create a mood of suspense, finally announced that it will take part in the election only if the government accepts its conditions. The main condition set by the reform front is that the government and the Guardian Council should accept at least one of the candidates exclusively introduced by the reform camp.

Many ‘reformist’ activists on social media described the decision that was made after a five-hour long meeting Wednesday night as "clever." Others advised that so-called reformist figures close to the core of the government such as Massoud Pezeshkian should not be named as the front's candidate. Pezeshkian whose credentials were rejected for the March parliamentary elections, was later allowed to run after Khamenei told the Guardian Council to avert its decision about him. He registered as a candidate on Saturday, but it is not certain if ‘reformists’ will designate him as their candidate.

Another one of those ‘reformist’ figures who lacks the backing of the Reform Front is Mostfa Kavakebian the leader of Mardom Salari [Democracy] party, a low-profile proreform party with no defined agenda.

Journalist and political activist Sajjad Abedi wrote in a May 30 tweet: "It is interesting that there is still no invitation campaign to call on the main choice for presidency to come forward. I can say with certainty that he is going to surprise all those who have been furthering their early campaigns." Abedi could have been talking about Acting President Mohammad Mokhber or Roads Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash who was present at Khamenei's meeting with Syria's Basahar Asad visiting Tehran this week.