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As the clerical regime in Iran approaches its premature presidential election, internal crises and power struggles have intensified. With the candidate registration period now closed and the Guardian Council deeply engaged in evaluating potential disqualifications while considering the political and social consequences, state media and officials have started to reveal the behind-the-scenes conflicts.
On June 4, the state-run Rouydad 24 reported that Ebrahim Raisi’s cabinet is fragmented, with at least four ministers and deputies registering as candidates. The report stated, “Raisi’s cabinet is torn apart. At least four of Raisi’s ministers and deputies have registered for the upcoming elections. The ministers couldn’t agree on a single representative from the cabinet.”
In response, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, the presidential Chief of Staff, attempted to mitigate the situation by calling for unity among government candidates to ensure a strong factional victory: “My colleagues in the government who have become candidates should come together in the end to ensure a president is elected with a high vote.”
Hamid Rasaee, an influential cleric and regime parliamentarian who never misses an opportunity to attack Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), criticizing the Speaker of Parliament, “Given the explicit prohibition by the Supreme Leader addressed to the representatives, on what basis have you registered for the presidency?”
What to Make of Candidates Running in #Iran’s Presidential Sham Electionhttps://t.co/KWDpOCO6Ts
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 4, 2024
The state-run Sazandegi newspaper highlighted Ghalibaf’s broken promise not to run for president if he received support for his parliamentary leadership bid: “Ghalibaf, who had promised the Independents’ faction that he would not run for president if he became the Speaker of Parliament with their support, has shown today that his promises cannot be trusted.”
Meanwhile, the state-run Entekhab on June 3 focused on the long-standing political rivalry between former Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili: “For years, one has spoken of negotiations, and the other of resistance. For years, Larijani and Jalili have become a political dichotomy.”
Furthermore, state media branded former IRGC commanders Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Mohsen Rezaee, along with current Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani, as serial losers in past elections.
All the while, Ali Rabiei, spokesperson for Hassan Rouhani’s government, expressed concerns on social media about the systemic fraudulent nature of the elections and the elimination of major officials: “What we have witnessed in the political scene of the elections is worrisome and a legacy of engineered elections, leaving many prominent figures out.”
Similarly, Khabar Online admitted the election’s farcical nature and acknowledged the public’s rejection of various officials. In an article titled “Tsunami of Former MPs’ Candidacy in the 2024 Elections,” Khabar Online wrote on June 3, “In the 2024 elections, the political spectacle at the Interior Ministry building reached its peak. During the elections, cries of ‘I am the man’ echoed from all sides, from economic figures and former military personnel to politicians who have been repeatedly rejected by the people at the ballot box but insist on participating.”
In light of these revelations, some state officials voiced concerns about the damaging effects of these exposures.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi urged candidates to avoid attacking each other and to focus on their platforms, citing the need to preserve the regime’s dignity: “The election law stipulates that candidates should avoid defaming each other, present their programs, and refrain from slander and similar issues. Especially with the spiritual and valuable atmosphere created by the martyrdom of our loved ones, and particularly Raisi, it is essential to ensure this positive atmosphere is not damaged.”
Meanwhile, Guardian Council spokesperson Hadi Tahan-Nazif warned, “Media and virtual activists should avoid speculation regarding the qualification review of presidential candidates.”