Iran’s top presidential candidate elected speaker of parliament
Former Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf was elected as the Iranian speaker of parliament Tuesday, state television reported, triggering speculations that he might run for president next month.
State TV said 198 lawmakers out of 287 voted for Qalibaf, who previously ran unsuccessfully in two presidential races and dropped out of a third to avoid splitting the hardline vote. Qalibaf revived his political ambitions by running for parliament in 2020.
An early presidential election is set for June 28 following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
Registration for presidential candidates will start on Thursday. Insiders and Iranian state media had touted Qalibaf as a potential candidate.
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