Qalibaf, Jahangiri, and PourMohammadi Nominate; Khamenei Warns: Avoid 'Slander and Mud-Slinging' to Preserve National Honor

As the registration of political figures for the 14th presidential election of the Islamic Republic continues, with some government officials deeming it 'political triviality' and 'a farcical display,' Ali Khamenei has warned candidates against 'slander and mud-slinging,' stating that it could lead to the loss of 'national honor.' In a speech on the anniversary of the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, Khamenei cautioned that 'slander, mud-slinging, and accusations' could result in a loss of 'national dignity.' This comes amid reports of candidates making headlines with their statements against one another in previous debates, revealing what some political observers describe as 'family quarrels' within the Islamic Republic. Khamenei also considered the death of Ebrahim Raisi to have 'internal and global consequences' and added that if the upcoming presidential election is held 'well and grandly,' it would be 'a significant achievement.' Khamenei's implicit concern comes as the last parliamentary elections faced widespread public boycotts and the lowest participation rate in the history of the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, in addition to the regime's opponents, who have previously stated they will boycott the 'election circus,' several political figures within the Islamic Republic have also described the current situation as 'political triviality' and 'a farcical display.' Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, former head of the National Security Commission of the Parliament, stated in an interview that the 'existing chaos' in the registration of presidential candidates reflects 'political triviality' and expressed concern over the lack of political parties in Iran. He noted that various factions have entered the race with multiple candidates, and the bitter point is that most deny their political backgrounds because they do not want to share in their political factions' weaknesses; thus, no one takes responsibility for the current societal problems, and effectively, no one presents a program. The registration of Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the current Speaker of Parliament, Eshaq Jahangiri, the first vice president during Hassan Rouhani's term, and Mostafa PourMohammadi, the Minister of Justice in Rouhani's government and Minister of Interior in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government, who was also a member of the 'Death Committee' in the 1980s responsible for the mass execution of political prisoners, is among the latest developments in this election. The upcoming elections have been described by users and political observers with terms such as 'a staged show of force,' 'election circus,' 'stand-up comedy,' and 'a farcical display.' Of the 62 candidates who have registered for the 14th presidential election by midday on Tuesday, 31 are former members of Parliament, including two women. The registration of these women comes despite the Guardian Council's previous disqualifications of women based on its interpretation of the term 'political figure,' which is a prerequisite for presidency according to the Islamic Republic's constitution. Notable figures who have previously registered include Vahid Haqaniyan, Saeed Jalili, Ali Larijani, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Alireza Zakani, with Iranian media predicting that Mehrdad Bazrpash and Mohammad Mokhber will also register for this election. The registration for the 14th presidential election began on Thursday, June 1, and is set to continue for five days. The 14th round of the presidential election, initially scheduled for 2025, will be held a year earlier, on July 8 of this year, due to the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.