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.



Russia Warns of Consequences for Striking Iran’s Nuclear Facilities

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. (Reuters file)
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. (Reuters file)
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Russia Warns of Consequences for Striking Iran’s Nuclear Facilities

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. (Reuters file)
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. (Reuters file)

Moscow warned against military action targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure following US President Donald Trump’s threat to bomb the country if it fails to reach an agreement.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov criticized Trump’s threats of military force, warning that escalation would have catastrophic consequences for the entire region.

Russia opposes coercive solutions, aggression, and military strikes, Ryabkov said.

He condemned Washington’s threats against Iran as an attempt to impose its will on Tehran, cautioning that further escalation would only complicate the situation and require greater efforts in the future to contain the risks of a new conflict in the Middle East, where tensions are already at a peak.

Moscow has previously offered to mediate between Washington and Tehran. Analysts suggest Russia is seeking to strengthen its diplomatic leverage by positioning itself as a key player in resolving the nuclear standoff. Russian officials believe they can offer security guarantees to both sides, similar to those provided during the 2015 nuclear deal negotiations.

Moscow and Washington have reportedly discussed, through contacts in Saudi Arabia, the possibility of Russia facilitating dialogue on Iran. However, Trump’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric has raised concerns in Moscow.

Ilya Vaskin, a researcher at the Center for the Study of the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia at HSE University, said issuing ultimatums is a hallmark of the Trump administration’s negotiating style. According to Vaskin, Washington is trying to pressure Iran into a swift agreement and secure a new nuclear deal on its own terms.

Lev Sokolchik, a senior researcher at the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the HSE University, noted that Iran has made significant progress in its nuclear program and missile capabilities in recent years. He argued that Trump is trying to curb Iran’s military ambitions, which could threaten U. interests in the region.

Sokolchik warned that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon within months, a scenario that deeply concerns both the United States and Israel.