Originally scheduled for 2025, the polls have been moved up to June 28 following the president’s death in the May 19th air crash, Al Jazeera reports on May 30th.
Iran has commenced formal registration for presidential candidates ahead of next month’s snap election to replace the late Ebrahim Raisi, who tragically died in a helicopter crash earlier this month.
Read more: Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi Dies in Helicopter Crash
The IRNA news agency reported that candidate registration for the 14th presidential elections commenced at the interior ministry at 8 a.m. local time.
IRNA also reported that presidential hopefuls have five days to register. Raisi and seven members of his entourage, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, died in a plane crash on a foggy mountainside in northern Iran. After this, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, as caretaker president.
About Candidacy
On Thursday, May 30th, state media reported that about 30 people applied for candidacy, but none met the basic qualifications. AFP reported that former reformist lawmaker Mostafa Kavakebian and conservative parliamentarian Mohammadreza Sabaghian submitted their applications to the Ministry of Interior. According to Iran’s electoral law, candidates must be between 40 and 75 years old and have at least a master’s degree. As in past elections, the main candidates from Iran’s leading political camps are expected to apply closer to the end of the registration process.
Al Jazeera, AFP, France 24, IRNA and agencies