Iran bars several hopefuls from presidential polls

GBNEWS24 DESK//

Iran’s election watchdog has approved the candidacy of hardline judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi in presidential elections, state television reported on Tuesday, while disqualifying some of his main potential rivals. The move is likely to boost the prospects of Raisi, a close ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But it may further dent the clerical rulers’ hopes of a high turnout in the June 18 vote, amid rising discontent over an economy crippled by US sanctions. The hardline-led Guardian Council barred former parliament speaker Ali Larijani, a moderate conservative, pragmatist First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri and hardline ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from running, according to the state TV report.