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Parliament: Guardian Council Cannot Disqualify Elected Candidates After Election Validity Confirmation

Jan 29, 2026 January 29, 2026 2 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

The Iranian Parliament has passed a resolution stating that the Guardian Council cannot disqualify elected candidates after confirming election results. This decision is significant for Minou Khalighi, whose eligibility was previously rejected despite her election. The ruling could set a precedent for future elections and candidate eligibility.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The Parliament's resolution could reshape the electoral landscape in Iran by limiting the Guardian Council's authority over elected officials.

👥 Key Players

Guardian Council MENTIONED
Electoral oversight body
"Responsible for vetting candidates and ensuring electoral integrity in Iran."
Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament) MENTIONED
Legislative body of Iran
"Plays a crucial role in shaping laws and policies, including electoral processes."
Minou Khalighi MENTIONED
Elected representative from Isfahan
"Her case highlights issues of candidate eligibility and the power dynamics between the Parliament and the Guardian Council."
Ali Motahari MENTIONED
Deputy Speaker of Parliament
"Influential in parliamentary discussions and predictions regarding the Guardian Council's actions."

📰 What Happened

The Iranian Parliament passed a resolution stating that the Guardian Council cannot disqualify elected candidates after confirming election results. This decision is particularly relevant to Minou Khalighi, whose eligibility was previously rejected despite her election.

  • The resolution was approved with 151 votes in favor and 66 against.
  • It still requires approval from the Guardian Council, but is seen as likely to pass.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This ruling could enhance the legitimacy of elected officials and reduce the Guardian Council's power to arbitrarily disqualify candidates.
🌍 Regional: It may influence electoral practices in other countries with similar governance structures in the region.
🌐 International: Western observers may view this as a positive step towards democratic processes in Iran, potentially impacting diplomatic relations.

📚 Background

In Iran, the Guardian Council holds significant power over elections, often disqualifying candidates based on various criteria. This has led to controversies regarding the fairness of elections.

Iranian electoral system Role of the Guardian Council
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
The source is state-affiliated, which may influence the framing of the events and the portrayal of the Parliament's actions.

The Islamic Consultative Assembly has voted positively on an inquiry stating that the Guardian Council cannot disqualify an elected individual or invalidate their votes after the election validity has been announced. ISNA reported that on Sunday, October 25, representatives voted in favor with 151 votes for, 66 against, and 9 abstentions. The inquiry asked: 'Can the Guardian Council disqualify the elected candidate after the validity of the election in the relevant electoral district has been announced and thereby invalidate their votes?' In response, the representatives of the Islamic Consultative Assembly approved: 'No, after the definitive and final opinion of the Guardian Council within the 20-day period... this council cannot make any further comments regarding the eligibility of that candidate or elected individual, and if new documents regarding them have been received by the council, these documents will be reviewed according to Article 30 of the Internal Regulations of the Islamic Consultative Assembly during the examination of the credentials of the elected representatives.' This resolution still needs to be approved by the Guardian Council, but Ali Motahari, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, predicted that due to the presence of a representative from this council in the relevant commission meetings, the Guardian Council will approve it. In response to the question of whether this inquiry would pave the way for the entry of Minou Khalighi into Parliament, he said: 'Of course, this resolution is future-oriented and is not solely about Ms. Khalighi, but it may also resolve her issue.' Meanwhile, the head and spokesperson of the Parliament's Council Commission told Tasnim News Agency that 'the law does not have retroactive effect' and 'with today's resolution, Ms. Khalighi will not enter the Islamic Consultative Assembly.' Minou Khalighi was one of the elected representatives from Isfahan in the tenth parliamentary elections, whose eligibility was rejected by the Guardian Council despite the overall results for Isfahan being approved. A parliament member had previously reported that Minou Khalighi's case, the third elected representative from Isfahan, was closed by the order of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, preventing her from entering Parliament.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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