NEW DELHI: Iranian started official proceedings record for presidential candidates following his sudden death, on Thursday for early elections to be held next month. Ibrahim Raisi inside helicopter crash.
“Candidate registration for the 14th presidential election started at 8 am (0430 GMT) at the interior ministry,” the official IRNA news agency said.
IRNA said presidential candidates have a five-day period to register.
The elections, originally planned to be held in 2025, were postponed due to Raisi’s unexpected death on May 19.
Raisi and seven others, including foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were killed when their helicopter crashed into a foggy mountainside in northern Iran.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the religious leader of the Islamic republic, appointed vice president Mohammed Muhber, 68, as interim president in accordance with the constitutional directive following the accident.
State television reported that “about 30 people” came forward to submit their candidacies on Thursday, but “none met the basic conditions for qualification.”
According to Iranian election law, candidates must be between the ages of 40 and 75 and have at least a master’s degree.
As in previous election cycles, the main candidates from Iran’s leading political groups are expected to submit their applications towards the end of the registration period.
The Guardian Council, a 12-member body of jurists appointed or approved by the religious leader, will announce the final list of candidates on June 11.
During the 2021 presidential elections, this body disqualified many reformist and moderate candidates, leading to the election of the ultra-conservative Raisi.
This election witnessed a record low voter turnout with only 48.8% turnout.