Ghalibaf Warns Presidential Candidates Against Harming Iran’s Image

 Two candidates wait for their turn to register their candidacy for the presidential race at the election center on Saturday (AFP).
Two candidates wait for their turn to register their candidacy for the presidential race at the election center on Saturday (AFP).
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Ghalibaf Warns Presidential Candidates Against Harming Iran’s Image

 Two candidates wait for their turn to register their candidacy for the presidential race at the election center on Saturday (AFP).
Two candidates wait for their turn to register their candidacy for the presidential race at the election center on Saturday (AFP).

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned presidential candidates that exchanging accusations would convey a “dark picture” of the country’s conditions and raise people’s doubts about the future.

“The large number of candidates from different political spectrums shows that political elites of various orientations accept the election process in Iran, consider the presidency to be influential, and have sufficient powers to bring about change and transformation,” the speaker said in a session on Sunday.

He went on to say that the high candidacy rate “is a promising start for the establishment of effective elections with a great participation,” adding that the seriousness of the electoral atmosphere was for the country’s interest and a “demand of all those who are keen on Iran.”

The upcoming presidential polls, which will be held on June 18, will be the first in the country after the severe economic crisis, which led the Iranians to take to the streets on Dec. 2017, five months before the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Guardian Council, Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, announced that the elections would be based on “the constitution and the conditions stipulated in Article 115”, in addition to the “general procedures” stipulated by Iran’s spiritual leader Ali Khamenei, in reference to the conditions recently announced by the Council, which President Hassan Rouhani expressed reservations about.

Since the opening of registration on Tuesday, up to 592 candidates, including 40 women, have submitted their candidacy to the Ministry of Interior.

Kadkhodaei noted that the General Administration for the Elections in the Guardian Council, which is responsible for the preliminary review and preparation of the required documents, began its work on Sunday, before presenting the files to the twelve members of the Council.

He added that the process of reviewing the requests would officially begin on Monday.

The Guardian Council has specified that “all nominees must be between 40 and 70 years of age, hold at least a master’s degree or its equivalent, have work experience of at least four years in managerial posts... and have no criminal record”, according to Iran’s state-run Press TV. The new terms come in the implementation of a 2016 directive from Khamenei.



Netanyahu Expected to Talk Tariffs with Trump in Washington on Monday, Officials Say

US President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the entrance of the White House in Washington, US, February 4, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File photo
US President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the entrance of the White House in Washington, US, February 4, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File photo
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Netanyahu Expected to Talk Tariffs with Trump in Washington on Monday, Officials Say

US President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the entrance of the White House in Washington, US, February 4, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File photo
US President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the entrance of the White House in Washington, US, February 4, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File photo

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit the White House on Monday to discuss recently announced tariffs with US President Donald Trump, three Israeli officials said on Saturday.

The impromptu visit was first reported by Axios, which said that if the visit takes place, the Israeli leader would be the first foreign leader to meet with Trump in person to try to negotiate a deal to remove tariffs.

Netanyahu's office has not confirmed the visit, that would likely also include discussions on Iran and Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.

The surprise invite by Trump came in a phone-call on Thursday with Netanyahu, who is presently on a visit to Hungary, when the Israeli leader raised the tariff issue, according to the Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, Reuters reported.

As part of a sweeping new tariff policy announced by Trump, unspecified Israeli goods exports to the United States face a 17% tariff. The US is Israel's closest ally and largest single trading partner.

An Israeli finance ministry official said on Thursday that Trump's latest tariff announcement could impact Israel's exports of machinery and medical equipment.

Israel had already moved to cancel its remaining tariffs on US imports on Tuesday. The two countries signed a free trade agreement 40 years ago and about 98% of goods from the US are now tax-free.