Part 8/10:
Iran's Upcoming Presidential Election: Candidates and Implications
Iran’s electoral season is underway, with the June 28th presidential race taking shape. The first candidate to officially declare his bid is Mahmud Ahmadinejad, the hardliner and former president renowned for antagonizing Washington during his tenure between 2005 and 2013.
Despite his controversial history—including sanctions and destabilizing rhetoric—Ahmadinejad promises "constructive engagement," though experts view this as rhetorical gloss. His candidacy is viewed as a challenge to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, especially after his previous failed bid in 2021 when the Guardian Council disqualified him amid internal power struggles.