Following the recent death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced his consideration of entering the upcoming presidential elections.
Ahmadinejad’s supporters, through the Dolat Bahar Telegram channel, posted a video of him on Saturday addressing his fans, expressing confidence that “the situation is changing for the better.”
“There are rapid changes taking place, not just in Iran but in the world, and I am hopeful that we will soon see the sweet changes,” Ahmadinejad stated.
The new presidential election, scheduled for June 28th, comes after President Raisi and his delegation perished in a helicopter crash last weekend.
Ahmadinejad’s potential candidacy has already garnered support from his allies in parliament, who tout him as “one of the most popular political figures in the country.” Ahmad Alireza Beigi, a representative of Tabriz, told ILNA, “If Mahmoud Ahmadinejad runs for president, he will win,” while also cautioning against the ramifications of his disqualification.
Ahmadinejad faced disqualification by the Guardian Council, which is heavily influenced by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in the 2017 and 2021 presidential elections. Alireza Beigi emphasized the importance of the Guardian Council’s approval, warning of “dire consequences” if Ahmadinejad is disqualified after declaring his candidacy.
Since being barred from the 2017 elections, Ahmadinejad has been a vocal critic of the regime, including openly criticizing Khamenei. However, in recent years, he has largely remained silent to avoid backlash from Khamenei loyalists.
Candidates for the presidency, parliament, and the Assembly of Experts, which appoints Khamenei’s successor, must receive approval from the Guardian Council, Iran’s constitutional election watchdog.
Raisi’s death poses a significant challenge for the Islamic Republic’s leadership as it seeks to re-engage a disillusioned electorate while ensuring that hardliners maintain control over the presidency. Recent elections have seen historically low voter turnout, with only 40.6 percent of eligible voters participating in the first round of the recent parliamentary elections and a mere seven percent in Tehran’s run-off elections earlier this month.
