Ali Larijani, Iran’s former parliament speaker and chief nuclear negotiator, has declared his candidacy for president, in a snap poll following the unexpected death of the previous president in a helicopter crash.
The 66-year-old mathematician submitted his offer to the Iranian Ministry of Interior on Friday.
Larijani has held several leading positions in recent years, including Minister of Culture. From 2005 to 2007, he led the Iranian delegation in negotiations over the country’s controversial nuclear program.
Although Larijani is considered an insider of the establishment, he has increasingly distanced himself from the country’s shift toward arch-conservatism in recent years. He is now seen as a moderate conservative and is also respected by the opposition as a critic of the government.
The politician’s critical views were also the main reason for his disqualification from the 2021 presidential elections.
In Iranian political circles, Larijani is considered a “secret favorite” because he is recognized both within the system and in the reform camp.
He is believed to have sufficient experience to overcome the various crises in the country, especially to resume nuclear negotiations with the West. For some, this is a top priority for the country as a new nuclear deal is the only way to lift international sanctions and end the acute economic crisis of the past five years.
The presidential elections were called after the previous incumbent president, Ebrahim Raisi, died in a helicopter accident on May 19.
