Iran - News Archive

Iran opposition puts election unrest toll at 69

Posted: 08/11/2009
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's opposition said Tuesday at least 69 people have died in two months of postelection unrest based on accounts from the victims' families, more than double the official toll released by parliament....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Iran admits torturing election protesters

Posted: 08/10/2009
Officials in Iran have admitted that some of the election protesters who were arrested in June have been tortured in custody.

Read full story. Source: ABC News: World

Ahmadinejad sworn in as Iran president amid crisis

Posted: 08/05/2009
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in for a second term as Iran's president Wednesday while security forces battled hundreds of protesters chanting "Death to the Dictator" in the streets around parliament where the ceremony was held....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

As Mass Trial Continues, Hard-liners Demand Arrests Of Musavi And Khatami

Posted: 08/03/2009
The main leader of Iran's opposition, defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Musavi, so far remains a free man. But that could change if some allies of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad have their way. As some 100 reformers face charges of inciting the postelection unrest, hard-liners are now publicly calling for the arrest and prosecution of Musavi as well as former President Mohammad Khatami.

Read full story. Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Ahmadinejad's Opponents Snub Election Ceremony

Posted: 08/03/2009
Several of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's opponents avoided a ceremony recognizing his re-election in Iran.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Iran's first trials of protesters to begin

Posted: 07/29/2009
CAIRO (AP) -- Iran on Wednesday announced that the first trials of postelection protesters will begin this weekend, as anger grew even among some government supporters over abuse of those detained in the more than 6-week-old crackdown....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

140 prisoners from Iran election crackdown freed

Posted: 07/28/2009
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran on Tuesday released 140 people detained in Iran's postelection turmoil and the supreme leader ordered the closure of a prison where human rights groups say jailed protesters were killed, in a nod by authorities to allegations of abuses in the crackdown on protests....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Iran prez under fire for sacking minister

Posted: 07/27/2009
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was grappling with a fresh political crisis that has weakened his standing even among hardline supporters as he prepares to unveil a new government.

Read full story. Source: Times of India

Ahmadinejad may face confidence vote

Posted: 07/27/2009
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad fired two members of his cabinet and may have to face a vote of confidence in parliament for the final few days of his current term, two semi-official Iranian news agencies reported.

Read full story. Source: CNN.com - WORLD

Ahmadinejad's vice president choice rejected

Posted: 07/22/2009
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's supreme leader ordered the president, a close ally, to dismiss his controversial choice of a top deputy for making pro-Israeli remarks, the semiofficial media reported Wednesday. The move marked a rare split among the country's top conservatives....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Hard-Line Force Extends Grip Over a Splintered Iran

Posted: 07/21/2009
As Iran's leaders splinter over the election crisis, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is working to crush the opposition.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Iran supreme leader warns opposition to back down

Posted: 07/20/2009
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's supreme leader told politicians Monday not to disturb the country's security in a strong warning to the opposition to back down after one of its top figures called for a referendum on the government....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Khamenei blames foreign nations for Iran crisis

Posted: 07/20/2009
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday accused the enemies of the Islamic republic of fomenting the crisis over last month's disputed presidential election, state television reported.

Read full story. Source: Times of India

Khatami calls for Iran referendum

Posted: 07/20/2009
The former Iranian President, Mohammad Khatami, calls for a nationwide referendum on the legitimacy of the government.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Khatami calls for Iran referendum

Posted: 07/20/2009
The former Iranian President, Mohammad Khatami, calls for a nationwide referendum on the legitimacy of the government.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Opponents seek to deny Karzai firstround win

Posted: 07/16/2009
KABUL (AP) -- Critics decry his government as corrupt and ineffectual, the economy is in the tank and the country is racked by an insurgency led by the very people he helped oust from power eight years ago....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Iranian Teen Slain In Postelection Protest Laid To Rest

Posted: 07/13/2009
Nineteen-year-old Sohrab Arabi went to a protest with his mother in Tehran in the wake of the contested elections. They were separated in the crowd and Sohrab disappeared. Three weeks later, his family learned that he had died of a gunshot wound. The case has worsened fears about the fate of those who have disappeared or are being held being held incommunicado since the postelection unrest.

Read full story. Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Candidate Declares Iran May Face

Posted: 07/13/2009
A statement issued by a candidate in the recent presidential election showed that a government crackdown and warnings have not stifled dissent.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Clerical Leaders Defy Ayatollah on Iran Election

Posted: 07/07/2009
An important group of religious leaders in Iran called for the results to be thrown out, the most public sign of a major split in the clerical establishment.

Read full story. Source: NYT > Middle East

Iran election was world's freest: Ahmadinejad

Posted: 07/07/2009
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his country's disputed presidential election was the world's "freest" vote, but opposition leaders have criticised the "security state" imposed after the polls.

Read full story. Source: ABC News: World

Iran Opposition Leaders Call For Protesters' Release

Posted: 07/07/2009
Iranian opposition leaders have urged the authorities to free those detained during postelection protests and criticized the "security state" imposed in Iran, presidential candidate Mir Hossein Musavi's website said.

Read full story. Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Ahmadinejad's Rivals Defiant On Iran Vote

Posted: 07/01/2009
Two losing contenders in Iran's presidential election have denounced the result in clear defiance of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying Mahmud Ahmadinejad's next cabinet would be illegitimate.

Read full story. Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Iran declares election fight over, vote valid

Posted: 06/30/2009
EDITOR'S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Iran recount seen as bid to placate opposition

Posted: 06/29/2009
EDITOR'S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Election shadow

Posted: 06/29/2009
Prospects look bleak for renewing nuclear talks

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Iran arrests 70 professors amid post-election crackdown

Posted: 06/25/2009
Seventy university professors have reportedly been detained in Iran as the country widens its crackdown on opposition demonstrators.

Read full story. Source: CBC | World News

Iran's Mousavi defies crackdown

Posted: 06/25/2009
Iran's protest leader Mir Hossein Mousavi says those who "rigged" its elections are responsible for the ensuing bloodshed.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Khamenei Vows No Retreat On Iran Election Result

Posted: 06/24/2009
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared that a disputed election result would stand, despite street protests that Iranian officials say Britain and the United States have incited.

Read full story. Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Iran's top electoral body rules out vote annulment

Posted: 06/23/2009
CAIRO (AP) -- Iran's top electoral body said Tuesday it found "no major fraud" and will not annul the results of the presidential election, closing the door to a do-over sought by angry opposition supporters alleging systematic vote-rigging....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Amid Crackdown, Iran Admits Voting Errors

Posted: 06/23/2009
The police broke up a group of about a thousand protesters in Tehran as officials acknowledged voting discrepancies in at least 50 cities.

Read full story. Source: NYT > Middle East

Iranian police use force to break up protest

Posted: 06/22/2009
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Riot police attacked hundreds of demonstrators with tear gas and fired live bullets in the air to disperse a rally in central Tehran Monday, carrying out a threat by the country's most powerful security force to crush any further opposition protests over the disputed presidential election....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Panel of Clerics Offers Talks With Iranian Opposition

Posted: 06/18/2009
The invitation from the Guardian Council, which is investigating the contested Iranian elections, is the first sign that authorities are prepared for some form of political dialogue.

Read full story. Source: NYT > Middle East

Guardians Will Meet With Candidates About Contested Election

Posted: 06/18/2009
Following a fourth day of opposition protests, Iran’s Guardian Council has summoned Presidential candidates to a Saturday meeting about last weekend’s disputed election result. Contributing to allegations of fraud by the Interior Ministry-controlled election authority were the announcement of incumbent President Mahmoud AHMADINEJAD’S victory and the Council’s agreement to recount a small, nonrandom sample of votes. AHMADINEJAD’S supporters contend he beat challenger Mir-Hossein MOUSAVI by nearly 30 points in a four-way race. Analysts have pointed to statistical and circumstantial reasons, including strong support for AHMADINEJAD in locales where MOUSAVI was expected to lead, for questioning the outcome.

Source: ElectionGuide

New protests over Iran elections

Posted: 06/17/2009
Supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi plan a new demonstration in Tehran in protest at what they see as a fraudulent presidential election.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Tens Of Thousands Of Iranians Stage Fifth Day Of Protests

Posted: 06/17/2009
Tens of thousands of supporters of former Iranian Prime Minister Mir Hossein Musavi have gathered in central Tehran for a fifth straight day of protests against the results of the June 12 election, which they believe was rigged.

Read full story. Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Limited recount possible in Iran's disputed vote

Posted: 06/16/2009
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's Islamic leadership is prepared to conduct a limited recount of disputed presidential elections, a spokesman said Tuesday, as thousands of people took to the streets to show support for the regime and authorities cracked down on independent media....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Iran 'to hold election recount'

Posted: 06/16/2009
Iran's powerful Guardian Council says it is ready to recount disputed presidential votes after huge protests against the result.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Khamenei Calls for Inquiry as Demonstrators Defy Ban

Posted: 06/15/2009
The Iranian opposition leader, Mir Hussein Moussavi, appeared publicly for the first time in more than two days to ask for calm as Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called for an inquiry into accusations of election irregularities.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Iran Does Have Some Fishy Numbers

Posted: 06/15/2009
A most strange storyline has emerged with regard to the provincial vote totals for the Iranian election...

Read full story. Source: FiveThirtyEight: Politics Done Right

Pro-reform marchers fill Tehran streets

Posted: 06/15/2009
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Tens of thousands of supporters of pro-reform leader Mir Hossein Mousavi are streaming through the center of Tehran in a boisterous protest against election results that declared President Mamoud Ahmadinejad the winner....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Iran protesters defy rally ban

Posted: 06/15/2009
Thousands of supporters of Iran's defeated candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi rally against the presidential result, defying a ban.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Ahmadinejad Asks 'Where Is Fraud?' But Prevents Independent Scrutiny

Posted: 06/15/2009
After a weekend of widespread protests against Iran's official election results, many Iranians continue to believe that incumbent President Mahmud Ahmadinejad was fraudulently declared the winner of the June 12 vote. Now the regime in Tehran is trying to silence the critics. RFE/RL looks at the reasons many suspect Iran's presidential election was stolen.

Read full story. Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Germany summons Iranian ambassador over election

Posted: 06/14/2009
Germany views events in Iran following its presidential election with great concern and has summoned the Iranian ambassador to explain, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.

Read full story. Source: Times of India

No fraud in elections: Ahmadinejad

Posted: 06/14/2009
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday rejected the opposition's claims of electoral fraud, saying his re-election was "real and free" and could not be questioned.

Read full story. Source: Times of India

Iran vote extended with turnout massive

Posted: 06/12/2009
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iranians packed polling stations from boutique-lined streets in north Tehran to conservative bastions in the countryside Friday with a choice that's left the nation divided and on edge: keeping hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power or electing a reformist who favors greater freedoms and improved ties with the United States....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Iran Vote Begins With No Certain Favorite

Posted: 06/11/2009
Voters may decide Iran’s hotly contested Presidential race on Friday. While some polls predict incumbent President Mahmoud AHMADINEJAD will win with a double-digit margin of victory, others put reformist challenger Mir-Hossein MOUSAVI slightly ahead. The outcome may depend on the performance of minor-party challengers Mohsen REZAI and Mehdi KARROUBI. If no candidate wins a majority, voters will return to the polls for a second round.

Source: ElectionGuide

Ahmadinejad lashes out at rival just before vote

Posted: 06/10/2009
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's hard-line president took a final shot at his rivals Wednesday during his last public campaign rally, accusing his main pro-reform challenger of fabricating problems about the country's economy woes to sway voters....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Huge Campaign Rallies Snarl Tehran

Posted: 06/09/2009
A pair of sprawling rallies brought Iran's capital virtually to a standstill ahead of Friday's presidential elections.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Opponents highlight Ahmadinejad eccentricity

Posted: 06/08/2009
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- A 2005 claim by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that a "light" surrounded him during a U.N. address was mocked Monday by his main pro-reform opponents in the latest barrage against the president's competence and another sign of the bitter tone dominating the election campaign in its final days....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

In Iran, Harsh Talk as Election Nears

Posted: 06/08/2009
The presidential campaign, in its final week, has reached a level of passion and acrimony almost unheard-of in Iran.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Iran President and Challenger Clash in Debate

Posted: 06/04/2009
In a televised debate ahead of next week's elections, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Mir Hussein Moussavi, a rival for power, accused each other of radicalism and undermining the nation's interests.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Iran starts televison presidential debates

Posted: 06/03/2009
State-run TV in Iran begins showing live debates between presidential candidates, 10 days ahead of elections.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Election Jokes Doing The Rounds In Iran

Posted: 05/27/2009
It's election season and that can mean only one thing in Iran: jokes. And many of them, perhaps unsurprisingly, poking fun at Ahmadinejad.

Read full story. Source: Rferl.org

Support for Moderate a Challenge to Iran's Leader

Posted: 05/26/2009
Mir Hussein Moussavi is the strongest challenger to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in coming national elections.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Iranian President's Chances Of Reelection Increase

Posted: 04/27/2009
The uncertainty over whether or not conservative forces in Iran will throw their support behind incumbent Mahmud Ahmadinejad's bid for a second presidential term is dissipating, after a coalition of conservative and clerical parties and groups announced that they will indeed support him in the June election.

Read full story. Source: Rferl.org

Iran Arrests Group Allegedly Planning Pre-Vote Bombings

Posted: 04/26/2009
Iran has arrested a group of people linked to Israel who were planning bombings ahead of the Islamic republic's June presidential election, the intelligence minister has been quoted as saying.

Read full story. Source: Rferl.org

Ex-leader of Iran announces candidacy

Posted: 02/09/2009
Former President Mohammad Khatami said Sunday that he would run in presidential elections in June.

Read full story. Source: Africa & Middle East - International Herald Tribune

Before election, Iranian hard-liners crack down

Posted: 01/05/2009
As the race for Iran's presidential election heats up, hard-liners are cracking down on activists who have supported reformist candidates in the past.

Read full story. Source: Africa & Middle East - International Herald Tribune

Conservatives win Iran elections, but Ahmadinejad critics make gains

Posted: 05/05/2008
While the conservatives' victory was expected, critics of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also made a strong showing, suggesting he could face opposition in the presidential campaign next year.

Read full story. Source: Africa & Middle East - International Herald Tribune

Iranian reformists request Tehran vote recount

Posted: 03/19/2008
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Reformist opponents of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad requested a recount of votes cast in Tehran in last week's election after conservatives swept to victory, a news agency reported on Wednesday.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Iran reformists question counting in election

Posted: 03/17/2008
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Staunch opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad complained on Monday about vote counting in Iran's parliamentary election, in which conservatives have retained their grip on the assembly, a news agency reported.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Iranians vote in general election

Posted: 03/14/2008
Voting takes place in Iran with many opponents of President Ahmadinejad barred from running for parliament.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Iran to Hold Parliamentary Elections

Posted: 03/13/2008
Iran will hold parliamentary elections Friday for 290 seats in the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami). Forty-four million eligible voters will select from 4,500 candidates representing two conservative factions, a reformist coalition and independents. The Guardian Council, the body which has the final say in the vetting of candidates, disqualified 2,200 mainly reformist candidates from participating in the upcoming polls. The disqualifications were largely viewed by the opposition as a measure to keep reformist candidates from the ballot. Following these disqualifications, reformists could only compete for less than half the seats in parliament. The Guardian Council has denied such allegations and believes elections will be competitive in all constituencies.

Source: ElectionGuide

Iran vote expected to test president's popularity

Posted: 03/06/2008
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Politicians launched their campaigns on Thursday for Iran's March 14 parliamentary election which is expected to provide a gauge of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's chances for re-election next year.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Iran May Block Internet on Election Day

Posted: 03/04/2008
Iran's government might block private access to the Internet on its election day, March 14, two Iranian news outlets reported.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Iran bars grandson of Khomeini from election

Posted: 02/06/2008
TEHRAN (Reuters) - An Iranian hardline watchdog body has banned a grandson of late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini from running for parliament next month, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Iran Parliamentary Elections

Posted: 01/31/2008
The Council of the Guardians of the Constitution, a body which oversees elections and interprets constitutional issues, disqualified 2,200 candidates from the forthcoming elections. The majority of those disqualified are regarded as reformists. Over 7,000 candidates have already registered for the 290 seats up for election in the Iranian parliament on March 14. Of those contesting, almost 600 are women. Iran’s main conservative party, the United Principalists Front, which currently dominates parliament and is aligned with President Mahmoud AHMADINEDJAD, plans to announce its list of 200 candidates on February 4. The March parliamentary election is largely viewed as a bellwether to the presidential election to be held in 2009.

Source: ElectionGuide

Ahmadinejad allies last in final Tehran vote count

Posted: 12/21/2006
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Final results in the election race for Tehran City Council on Thursday showed allies of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had gained the fewest seats among the main political groups.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Poll blow for Iran's Ahmadinejad

Posted: 12/18/2006
Partial results from key polls in Iran suggest a setback for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Iran vote

Posted: 12/18/2006
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's biggest reformist party said on Monday President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had suffered a "decisive defeat" in nationwide elections last week due to his government's "authoritarian and inefficient methods".

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Flurry of text messages ends Iran vote campaign

Posted: 12/14/2006
TEHRAN (Reuters) - In a flurry of last-minute mobile text messages from rival camps, campaigning ended in Iran before Friday's elections that will be the first popularity test for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad since he won the presidency last year.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Iran election candidates register

Posted: 10/05/2006
Registration of candidates standing for election to Iran's local councils and a key body called the Assembly of Experts is due to start.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Iran Announces Preliminary Results for Presidential Election

Posted: 06/21/2005
Final results from the presidential election placed former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as leading vote-getter (21%) followed by the mayor of Teheran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with 19.5% of the vote. Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad will face off in a run-off on Friday, June 24. Other leading vote-getters were Mehdi Karrubi (17.28%), Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf (13.90%), and Mostafa Moin (13.83%). Several groups complained of irregularities during the election.

Source: ElectionGuide

Candidates Begin Registering in Iran for the Presidential Elections

Posted: 05/12/2005
Registration of candidates for the June 17 presidential election began May 10 and will continue through May 14. Several women were among the first candidates to register, though the Constitution bars women from standing for the post. Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who served two terms from 1989 to 1997, has officially confirmed that he will be standing for election once more.

Source: ElectionGuide

Iran Announces Preliminary Results of Parliamentary Elections

Posted: 02/23/2004
According to preliminary figures on the February 20 parliamentary elections released by the Ministry of the Interior, a total of 4,737 candidates participated to secure a seat in the 289-member parliament. Roughly 50.57% of the country’s registered voters cast their ballots.  According to the latest results, 125 seats were secured by conservatives while about 40 were secured by reformist candidates.  Final results will be released on February 23.

Source: ElectionGuide

Iranian Reformist Party Announces Boycott of Parliamentary Elections

Posted: 02/02/2004
On February 2, Mohammad REZA Khatami of the reformist Islamic Iran Participation Front announced that the party will boycott the parliamentary elections and not field its remaining candidates for campaigns. This announcement came in response to a standoff between the reformist party and the Guardian Council, which has disqualified over 3,600 of the 8,200 potential candidates for the upcoming poll. Most of the disqualified candidates represent reformist parties.?? In addition to the party boycott, 124 reformist members of parliament have resigned their seats to protest the Guardian Council's actions. The parliamentary elections are scheduled for February 20.

Source: ElectionGuide

Iran Allows Candidates Disqualified Earlier to Run in Upcoming Elections

Posted: 01/20/2004
On January 20, the Guardian Council announced that it would allow 200 out of the 3000 plus reformist candidates the Council had earlier disqualified to participate in the upcoming parliamentary election. This announcement came in response to appeals made by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KHAMENEI and due to protests by the reformist camp, who complained that the Council was unfairly disqualifying reformist candidates. The Guardian Council announced in a press conference that it will continue to review cases presented by the disqualified candidates until January 30, in order to grant the approved participants time to campaign prior to the February 20 poll.

Source: ElectionGuide

Iranian Reformists Stage Sit-ins Against Guardian Council

Posted: 01/12/2004
On January 11, hundreds of Iranian reformists led by President Mohammad KHATAMI staged sit-ins against the Guardian Council for barring candidates in the upcoming parliamentary poll.  Over 2000 of the 8000 registered candidates were disqualified by the 12 member Guardian Council,  including many incumbents. President KHATAMI announced that he will hold talks with the Guardian Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KHAMENEI, who in turn announced that he will only intervene if all legal options have been exhausted.

Source: ElectionGuide

Candidates Begin to Register for Iran's Upcoming Parliamentary Elections

Posted: 12/15/2003
With parliamentary elections scheduled for February 20, aspiring candidates began to register on December 13 for a seat in the 290 member Islamic Consultative Assembly.? Issues? surrounding this poll include the government’s ability to pass reforms due to conflict between the liberals and conservatives, and concerns of a low voter turnout due to a declining economy.

Source: ElectionGuide

Iranian Parliament Approves Bill Limiting Powers of Guardian Council

Posted: 11/12/2002
On November 6th, the Iranian parliament approved a new bill which prevents the Guardian Council from disqualifying candidates.  According to the new bill, it would limit the clerical members of the Guardian Council from removing political candidates from participating in general elections without proper documented evidence.  However, the new bill must be ratified by the Council before it becomes part of Iran's electoral law.  Supporters of the bill hope that should it be approved, it would allow more candidates to participate and increase voter participation.

Source: ElectionGuide

Iran Announces Results of Presidential Election

Posted: 06/15/2001
Incumbent President Mohammad Khatami received nearly 78% of the votein the June 8th presidential election.  Khatami's closest competitor, AhmadTavakoli, received approximately 16% of the vote. 

Source: ElectionGuide

Iran Announces Nine Candidates to Stand Up Against Incumbent President

Posted: 05/18/2001
On May 17th, Iran's Guardian Council announced that nine candidates will stand against incumbent President Mohammad Khatami in the June 8, 2001 presidential elections.  The Guardian Council is an appointive 12-member panel of Islamic clerics and legal experts.  The  Council received a total of 814 applications from presidential hopefuls on May 8, 2001. 

Source: ElectionGuide

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