Iran’s Reform Front Nominates Presidential Candidates

Iran's Reform Front, a coalition of 'reformist' groups and political parties, has put forward their candidates for the June 28 snap presidential election.

The announcement was made by Javad Emam, the spokesperson for the Reform Front, via a tweet that revealed Abbas Akhoundi, Masoud Pezeshkian, and Es'haq Jahangiri as the chosen candidates for the government-controlled election to choose a successor for Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash last month. Each of these politicians who have registered to run secured two-thirds of the internal votes.

Former President Mohammad Khatami, who is highly regarded by many Iranian 'reformists', announced that he will endorse the presidential election only if at least one candidate from the Reform Front is permitted to run.

The path ahead for the nominees appears fraught with challenges. The Guardian Council, a 12-member body under the control of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has a storied history of blocking 'reformist' candidates. The practice has reinforced the stronghold of conservative and hardline groups within Iran's political realm, with a significant number of potential 'reformist' candidates having been disqualified since 2020, affecting both parliamentary and presidential races.

Abbas Akhoundi, the former Minister of Roads and Urban Development under President Hassan Rouhani. Masoud Pezeshkian, with his past roles as health minister and parliamentary leader, earlier claimed to restore faith in the electoral process among the disenchanted public. Es'haq Jahangiri, a moderate political figure and former vice president is the other one named by the front.