The winner will take over from the late Ebrahim Raisi, who passed away in a helicopter crash last month in northern Iran. The accident also claimed the lives of seven others, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Raisi had been anticipated to win another term and was considered a potential successor to the 85-year-old Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Eighty people applied to be candidates in the election. Out of these, only six were approved: five hardliners and one reformist.

Out of the six listed candidates,: Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, a hardline speaker of parliament and former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, stands out as the leading candidate. Saeed Jalili, an ultra-conservative who previously served as the chief nuclear negotiator and managed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's office for four years, is also in the running. Alireza Zakani, the conservative mayor of Tehran, is another candidate. Mostafa Pourmohammadi, who has held positions as the interior and justice minister, is also vying for the position. Amirhossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi, the current vice-president and ultraconservative head of the Martyrs’ Foundation, is a candidate too.

Additionally, Massoud Pezeshkian, a former health minister and the only reformist candidate, represents Tabriz in Iran’s parliament. Former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, known for his harsh crackdown after the disputed 2009 re-election, has been barred from running once again. Four women who had registered to run were all disqualified by a council consisting of clerics and jurists, ultimately overseen by Supreme Leader Khamenei.

The council's decision marks the beginning of a brief, two-week campaign period to find a successor to Raisi. The candidates approved by the Guardian Council indicate that Iran's Shiite leadership aims to facilitate a smooth election process after recent votes had historically low turnout. This election occurs amidst rising tensions between Iran and the West, due to Iran's support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict and its rapidly advancing nuclear program.

Opinion polls show that hard-line conservatives, such as parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and former Supreme National Security Council secretary Saeed Jalili, are currently leading. Meanwhile, former Health Minister Masoud Pezeshkian, who wasn't well-known and seemed to be at a disadvantage initially, is also gaining significant support.

The election is happening at a time when long-lasting economic sanctions from the U.S. and Europe are severely affecting the Iranian people. Since June 17, the six candidates have been talking about economic and foreign policy issues in a series of televised debates.

Ghalibaf believes that improving Iran's relationships with China and Russia is very important. He has suggested boosting productivity to counter the impact of sanctions. He also wants more cooperation with BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—and with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which is led by China and Russia.

Jalili believes the government should focus on increasing domestic demand. He also emphasizes the importance of Iran's relationships with China and Russia and has a strict approach toward the U.S.

During Raisi's leadership, Iran's relationship with the West worsened due to issues with its nuclear program and human rights. Instead, Iran strengthened its ties with China and Russia and sought to join BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Pezeshkian, the only reformist allowed to run, described the sanctions as a "disaster" for Iran. He wants to improve relations with the West to bring in foreign investment. He has brought on Mohammad Javad Zarif, the former foreign minister under President Hassan Rouhani and a key figure in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, to advise him on foreign policy. However, none of the six candidates has provided clear plans to address Iran's economic problems.

According to Nikkei Asia, foreign policy expert and women's rights activist Fatemeh Mohammadi said that during the debates, "all candidates avoided the main topic, which was the economy, and were unable to answer the questions."

Raisi's term was supposed to last until 2025, but his sudden death and the upcoming election have caught the candidates off guard."It usually takes a year to create a policy platform for a presidential election," said a campaign staffer for one of the candidates. "We don't have that much time for this election."

In Iran, the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has the most control over the government, while the president has only some power. Even though the president's power is limited, the election still shows what the people think and can influence the country's economy and foreign policies.

In the 2021 presidential election and the parliamentary election in March, less than half of the voters participated. Many people who want social change are feeling more and more discouraged because conservatives continue to hold power.

Voter turnout on Friday, June 28, is expected to be low, which would benefit Ghalibaf and other hard-line candidates. Homeira, a retired teacher from Iran, mentioned she would stay home with her husband on Friday since she felt hopeless about the government. "The reformists and the conservatives both made our lives difficult," said the 65-year-old. "I believe the next government will act however it wants, no matter what I think," she told Nikkei Asia. (IPA Service)