Registration Opens for Presidential Elections in Iran Following President's Death

The registration for candidates in the Iranian presidential elections began this morning, Thursday, and will continue until June 3. This comes days after the Iranian president was killed in a helicopter crash. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told reporters after announcing the start of candidate registration: "We begin the electoral process for the 14th presidential term in Iran with the registration that lasts for five days, followed by a seven-day qualification process for candidates by the Guardian Council, and a 15-day electoral competition." He added that the presidential elections, like parliamentary elections, "will take place in a completely secure and sound environment with competition among candidates and the participation of the entire population." He stated that "despite the significant loss (the president’s helicopter crash), we have easily overcome this crisis and there has been no disruption in the affairs of the country." Raisi, a hardliner who was seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died when the helicopter carrying him crashed amid poor weather conditions in a mountainous area near the Azerbaijan border on May 19.