Ponder if your country had a similar set-up, that there would be a committee who knocked out almost all presidential candidates and chose the few the committee wanted to be on the ballot–to control the outcome. From 590 candidates to 7! Thank you Guardian Council! (now the ballot will be much simpler!). Authoritarianism, certainly not democracy. Here is news from today. Also remember that many persons are considered for the next president and the next supreme leader years in advance by the current Supreme Leader and his staff—this is a controlled, Politburo type of process. See “Iran Approves 7 for Presidential Vote, Bars Rouhani Allies,” AP, May 25, 2021. The candidates are judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi, who is linked to mass executions in 1988, and the best known of the seven; Saeed Jalili, a former JCPOA nuclear negotiator; Mohsen Rezaei, a former Revolutionary Guard commander; Ali Reza Zakani, a former lawmaker; Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh, a current lawmaker; Mohsen Mehralizadeh, a former provincial governor; and Abdolnasser Hemmati, the current head of Iran’s Central Bank.
“Iran’s Ahmadinejad barred from presidential elections,” Neta Bar, Israel Hayom, May 25, 2021. “According to Iran’s Fars news agency close to the Revolutionary Guard has reported former Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, and Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri were also disqualified. While Ahmadinejad’s rejection was widely anticipated, banning Larijani and Jahangiri from the race was surprising. Larijani was expected to be the main challenger to the likely winner of the election, Chief Justice Ebrahim Raeesi, who is backed by hardliners and is considered a confidant of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.”
Two things of note, but could write for hours on a this seemingly simple advertisement for vacation/touring in Iran under the Regime. First, I will agree that it would be an “unforgettable” trip but for foreigners and dual citizens for reasons not listed in the advert. Second, the advert does not explain that certain types of persons and certain persons/states are not allowed to come. Third, some tourists have “minders”, controlling where you go and who you talk to. See “Rent a Car and Explore Iran–2021 Summer with Rentkonim,” Tehran Times, May 25, 2021.
We can go ahead and announce the winner of the June election—Ebrahim Raisi. “Iran’s Fars news agency close to the Revolutionary Guard has reported that the election watchdog, the Guardian Council, has finalized the list of candidates eligible to run in the June 18 presidential election, and has published a list of seven names. Fars said it has obtained the list and three crucial names are missing from the candidate line-up. Former parliament speaker Ali Larijani, former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri. While Ahmadinejad’s rejection was widely anticipated, the other two hopefuls being disqualified is a big surprise. Larijani, who is a conservative and has been appointed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as special envoy for China, was expected to be the main challenger to the likely winner of the election, Ebrahim Raeesi, who is backed by hardliners. The disqualification of Jahangir would eliminate the main centrist candidate and will almost seal Raeesi’s victory.” See “Iran Election Watchdog Disqualifies Three Main Candidates – Fars Report,” Iran International, May 25, 2021.
“Iran, world powers resume talks on US return to nuclear deal,” David Rising and Philipp Jenne, AP, May 25, 2021.