Former speaker of Parliament Ali Lariyani presents his candidacy for the presidential elections in Iran

Lariyani recognizes that “living conditions are difficult” and advocates working to achieve the withdrawal of US sanctions

May 31. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The former president of the Parliament of Iran Ali Lariyani presented his candidacy this Friday for the presidential elections scheduled for June 28, a vote that has been brought forward due to the death on May 19 of the president, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter accident. in the province of East Azerbaijan (northwest).

Lariyani, one of the most important figures among the moderates in Iran, is one of the six people who have already presented their candidacy, a process opened on Thursday, as confirmed by the spokesman for the electoral commission, Mohsen Eslami. as reported by the Iranian news agency Mehr.

After formalizing his candidacy, Lariyani highlighted that “living conditions today are difficult and the population expects the Government to find adequate solutions to these problems,” before adding that they can be solved through “support in national power” and “international experiences.

“Some countries had much more complicated situations than us and were able to resolve them,” he stated, before betting on “social justice and national progress in all sectors” and highlighting that the authorities “must provide the basis for growth.” “, as reported by the Iranian news agency Tasnim.

Likewise, in terms of international politics, he has argued that “Iran, with its ancient civilization, plays a role on the international stage and defines its cooperation with global poles based on its national interests and national security”, while it has promised to work toward the removal of US sanctions if he comes to power.

“Solving the issue of sanctions to achieve economic opening is one of the priorities of diplomacy,” argued Lariyani, who reiterated that “a strong base for defense and the Armed Forces is also one of Tehran’s conditions.” in any aspect of its politics.

Joining him for now are Iran’s former chief nuclear negotiator Said Jalili, the reformist Mostafa Kavakebian, Mohamadreza Sabaghian, Abbas Moqtadaei and Ghudrat Alí Hashemtian, although the Guardian Council will filter candidates for the publication of the final list of candidates for the Presidency during the day of June 11.

Lariyani, a 65-year-old philosopher and former Revolutionary Guard officer, was president of the Iranian Parliament between 2008 and 2020 and has since been a member of the Council of Discernment, in charge of addressing possible discrepancies in interpretations between the legislative body and the Council of Guardians.

Likewise, he was secretary of the Supreme National Security Council between 2005 and 2007 and one of the two representatives of the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, before the organization – the other being Hasan Rohani, who was president of Iran between 2013 and 2021–.

Lariyani is presenting himself as a presidential candidate for the third time, after the 2005 elections, in which he came in fourth place – and which resulted in the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -, and the 2021 elections, in which His candidacy was ruled out by the Council of Guardians, so he did not make the cut and appear on the ballots on voting day.

The elimination of Lariyani’s candidacy for the 2021 elections, in which the ultra-conservative Raisi won, came as a surprise due to his long experience in different positions in the administration of the Islamic Republic, although the Guardian Council did not publicly explain the reasons for your decision.

The country is currently in the middle of an interim period after the death of Raisi in the helicopter accident, in which the Foreign Minister, Hosein Amirabdolahian, also died. Since then, the vice president, Mohamad Mojber, has held the position temporarily until the elections, which were to take place within 50 days of the president’s death.