A cardiac surgeon, a former mayor of Tehran and a cleric implicated in the execution of political prisoners are among the six candidates approved by officials to run in Iran’s election on Friday to replace the president who died in a helicopter crash last month.
The candidates have renounced Iran’s hijab enforcement.
Though Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has ultimate authority over key state matters, the president sets domestic policy and can influence foreign policy.
Iran’s Guardian Council, a committee of 12 jurists and clerics, whittled an initial list of 80 presidential candidates down to six, disqualifying seven women and a former president and many other government officials.
Four candidates are still in the race.
Persons:
They’ve, Iran’s, Ali Khamenei
Organizations:
Guardian Council
Locations:
Tehran