Former Speaker of Iranian Parliament enters presidential race

Iranian politician Ali Larijani, a prospective heavyweight candidate, jumped into the presidential contest after submitting his application on Friday, Tasnim news agency reports.

The registration process for the 14th round of Iran’s presidential election got underway at the Interior Ministry headquarters in Tehran on Thursday.

On Friday morning, Ali Larijani registered as a presidential hopeful, arousing enthusiasm amongst his supporters, the report adds.

The sophisticated official has had many posts after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, serving as the Minister of Culture, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, member of the Expediency Council, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and Speaker of the Iranian Parliament.

On Thursday, Saeed Jalili, a former chief nuclear negotiator, registered to run for president.

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage crashed in northwestern mountainous forests on May 19, killing the president, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and six others.

According to the Constitution of Iran, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has taken the helm as the acting president at the discretion of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

The Elections Headquarters of Iran has set a timetable for the formation of electoral executive delegations, the registration of applicants, and the election campaign processes.

The election campaign period is set for June 12-26, while the nationwide presidential election will be held on Friday, June 28.

The new administration, the 14th after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, will assume power in late June or early July and hold office for four years.