Reports on Rouhani's possible disqualification from presidential race dismissed (UPDATE)
Iranian Guardian Council's spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei has
rejected the reports about presidential candidate Hassan Rouhani's
possible disqualification, Fars news agency reported.
"It's not true that his candidacy will get disqualified,"
Kadkhodaei said.
"Besides that we didn't have this kind of situation before, the
58th article of the constitution of Iran does say that the Guardian
Council can review a particular presidential candidacy," he
explained.
"What we can do is to issue a note to the candidate to straighten
his methods of campaigning," Kadhodaei said, adding that the
previously published news regarding Rouhani were bogus.
Previously, Mehr news agency reported citing an anonymous source
that the reason why Rouhani might be disqualified is because during
the TV debates with other candidates, he disclosed confidential
information regarding Iran's nuclear program.
Another reason for a possible disqualification of Rouhani is the
slogans that his supporters chant, according to the source.
The source also said that it is possible for the Guardian Council
to study this issue today, and make a decision on whether Rouhani
can continue the presidential race or not.
Fars news agency on the other hand reported citing its own
anonymous source that there are other reasons why Hassan Rouhani
can get disqualified.
According to the agency's source, among those reasons are: support
for Iranian opposition leaders Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi
Karroubi, and revealing sensitive information.
In a response to these articles, news website close to Rouhani,
AftabNews said that these news articles are "suspicious" and are
aimed to stop Rouhani from participating in the presidential
race.
Rouhani is competing against Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf,
secretary of Iran Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, lawmaker
Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of the Supreme National Security
Council Saeed Jalili, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati,
former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, and former
Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi.
On June 14, Iranians will go to over 66,000 polling stations across
the country to cast their votes, while some 285 polling stations
will be set up for Iranian nationals in other countries.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national
election.