Former Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani Announces Candidacy for Iranian Presidential Election

Iranian television "Al Alam" reported today, Friday, that Ali Larijani, the former Speaker of the Parliament, has announced his candidacy for the presidential elections. The broadcast included a video showing Larijani, aged 66, leaving what appeared to be a government office. Iran has announced that presidential elections will be held to choose a successor to Ibrahim Raisi, whose plane crashed in the northern part of the country earlier this month. In addition to Larijani, Saeed Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator who has previously run for president twice, also announced his candidacy earlier this week. All candidates must obtain approval from the Guardian Council, which is composed of 12 members.