Dubai:

Iran started on Thursday registration of candidates for an early election next month following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told state TV.

Once seen as a possible successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s ageing ultimate decision-maker, Raisi’s sudden death has triggered a race among hardliners to influence the selection of Iran’s next leader.

After the five-day registration period, the Guardian Council, which oversees elections and legislation, will vet the candidates running for the presidency.

“The vetting process will be seven days and then qualified candidates will have almost two weeks for the election campaign,” Vahidi told state TV. The Guardian Council will publish the list of qualified candidates on June 11.

Moderate politicians have accused the 12-member hardline Guardian Council of disqualifying rivals to hardline candidates, who are expected to dominate the upcoming presidential race.

Turnout may be hit by restricted choice on the ballot and rising discontent over an array of political, social and economic crises.

Within Iran’s complex mix of clerical rulers and elected officials, Khamenei has the final say on all state matters such as nuclear and foreign policies. But the elected president will be in charge of tackling worsening economic hardship.

The registration of candidates could include Parviz Fattah, a former Guards member who heads an investment fund linked to the leader, and Saeed Jalili, a former chief nuclear negotiator who in 2001 ran Khamenei’s office for four years, insiders said.

Interim President Mohammad Mokhber and former parliament speaker and a Khamenei adviser, Ali Larijani, have also been mentioned in Iranian media as possible candidates. Larijani was barred from standing in the 2021 presidential race.

Several low-key moderate politicians are likely to enter the race.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Updated – May 21, 2024 12:03 pm IST

Published – May 21, 2024 11:40 am IST

File photo of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was found dead at the site of a helicopter crash site on May 20, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Sri Lanka is observing May 21, 2024, as a national day of mourning in view of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s sudden death. The island nation’s flag will fly at half-mast at all state institutions on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Public Administration.

“Sri Lanka is deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian and other senior Irani officials. I express my deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to the bereaved families, the government and the people of Iran. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of President Raisi and his entourage,’ President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on social media platform ‘X’ on Monday.

Leaders across the country’s political spectrum condoled the passing of President Raisi, who was in Sri Lanka less than a month ago.

During his visit, President Raisi inaugurated a $514-million irrigation project that is expected to augment Sri Lanka’s energy resources, and made an emphatic call for the attack on Gaza to end.

Hours before Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash that also killed his foreign minister and eight other senior officials, Iran state media shared videos of the leader on board the chopper on Sunday.

The video shows the Iranian leader looking out of an aircraft window as the camera pans to show several senior officials including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian seated opposite him.

In a clip, shared by Iran video, the President can be seen meeting officials before he boarded the chopper. Approximately 30 minutes after the aircraft took off, contact was lost with it. Nearly 16 hours after that, the mangled wreckage of the helicopter was found on a mountain peak.

ایرانی صدر ابراہیم رئیسائی کا آخری سفر، ہیلی کاپٹر حادثے سے پہلے ڈیم کے فضائی دورے کی ویڈیو۔۔!!#Iranpic.twitter.com/LOn5h1Lsdq

— Khurram Iqbal (@khurram143) May 20, 2024

“The servant of Iranian nation, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi has achieved the highest level of martyrdom whilst serving the people,” state television said.

Iranian media initially described the situation as an “accident”. Iran’s Deputy President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri said two officials had established contact with rescue teams, suggesting that the crash might not have been cataclysmic. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the death of the Iranian President and said that India stands with Iran in its “time of sorrow”.

“Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow,” he said in a post on X.

PM Modi had expressed “deep concern” when the Iranian leader’s helicopter had gone missing, saying he was praying for the well-being of the president and his entourage.