In a historic move, former Member of Parliament Zohreh Elahian has become the first woman to register as a candidate in Iran's extraordinary presidential elections, as it was reported by Al-Mayadeen.
Elahian, expressing pride in Iran's achievements, has vowed to introduce a new governance model that leverages the potential of the youth and emphasizes political and social freedoms.
"The slogan of my government is a healthy government, a healthy economy, and a healthy society,"
she declared, encapsulating her vision for the future of Iran. Elahian's candidacy is seen as a beacon of hope for many who seek greater inclusivity and progressive reforms in Iranian politics.
The upcoming election has attracted several prominent political figures. Among them is Ali Larijani, the former head of the parliament, and Saeed Jalili, the former head of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran. Jalili is particularly noted for his firm stance on foreign policy, especially regarding negotiations and relations with the West and the United States.
Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also registered as a candidate. Ahmadinejad, who served as president from 2005 to 2013, has focused his campaign on combating poverty and improving the well-being of the Iranian population. His presidency was marked by controversy, particularly his re-election in 2009, which sparked widespread protests resulting in dozens of deaths and thousands of arrests. Notably, Ahmadinejad was barred from participating in the 2017 and 2021 elections by the Constitution Protection Council, a body of twelve Islamic scholars and lawyers.
The extraordinary election was necessitated by the tragic death of President Ibrahim Raisi, who perished in a plane crash on May 19. The helicopter carrying President Raisi and the foreign minister crashed in the northwest of Iran. The search and rescue operation, hampered by heavy fog and mountainous terrain, took over 10 hours. Experts suggest that the crash may have been caused by a technical failure or human error. In the wake of this tragedy, Iran declared five days of mourning to honor the late president.
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