Iran approved seven ultra-conservative candidates for the country’s next month’s presidential election, including the head of the judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, Iranian media reported.
However, political heavyweights such as Ali Larijani, an important figure in the state apparatus, were also banned from the elections.
The surprise disqualification of Larijani could increase the chances of ultra-conservative Raisi in the June 18 elections, as well as the chances for Tehran to revive its agreement with the world’s powerful nations on its nuclear program.
Raisi won 38 percent of the votes during the 2017 election but lost out to current President Hassan Rouhani. Under the Iranian constitution, Rouhani cannot run for a third term.
Iran’s Council of Guardians, which oversees the constitution and elections and approves candidacies, has also banned former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from participating in the upcoming election.
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