We’ll ask the question again, in a different context.  In what other country does this happen?  Of a culling of candidates?  80 applied, 6 were chosen as acceptable.  “Iran Approves Parliament Head, Five Others As Presidential Candidates,” RFE/RL Radio Farda, 6-9-24.  The candidates approved by the Guardian Council (by the Supreme Leader) for the June 28 election are Parliament leader Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Reformist lawmaker Masud Pezeshkian, nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani (he will come in second I think), Amir Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi, a Conservative deputy to former Pres. Raisi, and hard-line interior and justice minister Mostafa Purmohammadi.  My money is on Qalibaf because he is former IRGC.  BTW Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ali Larijani were struck.