Iran’s generals racing for the presidency

Islam Mohamed

Retired army generals with close links to Iranian Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei are racing against each other to reach the office of president in Iran, while the Islamic Republic prepares for new presidential elections.

Hardliners with connections to Khamenei control Iran’s Constitutional Council.  The council is the only Iranian agency capable of nominating candidates for the presidency.

There are expectations, meanwhile, that the elections will witness a low voter turnout against the background of deteriorating economic conditions in Iran.

Incumbent President Hassan Rouhani warned the army generals against running in the presidential elections which are slated for June 18.

He said the army should not get involved in Iran’s politics, but protect Iran and its elected government.

A large number of retired army generals announced candidacy bids, raising fears among Iran’s reformists, including Rouhani, from the emergence of a new government in Iran that is run by the military establishment.

The Iranian constitution does not prevent the generals from running in elections. However, army officers in service are banned from getting involved in political activities.

Rouhani does not have the right to seek a third term in the presidency. The 2015 nuclear deal with the west was the centerpiece of Rouhani’s presidency. Nevertheless, this is shriveling up and coming to nothing.

The deal would have got Iran out of its isolation and attracted foreign investments to it, which would have reflected positively on the Iranian economy.

Nonetheless, economic conditions in the country are deteriorating after the US pulled out of the deal and re-imposed economic sanctions on Iran.