Does Khamenei Have A Favored Candidate? - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Mohammad Ali Shabani

Mohammad Ali Shabani

Jun 10, 2013

EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on leaving the office to report, film or take pictures in Tehran.
A man looks at the headline of a newspaper at a news stand in Tehran March 4, 2012. Hardliners allied with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei maintained their lead in the country's parliamentary vote, with partial results on Sunday showing supporters of the president trailing behind. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi (IRAN - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR2YT — A man looks at the headline of a newspaper at a news stand in Tehran, March 4, 2012. — REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi

Campaign pins of Iranian presidential candidate and lead nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili are displayed for sale at Tehran University in the Iranian capital on June 3, 2013. The eight candidates standing for president this month may differ on several issues, but when it comes to Iran's nuclear drive they are united in pursuing what they see as its peaceful atomic ambitions. AFP PHOTO/ATTA KENARE (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images)

Iranian Candidates Vie For 'Party of the Wind'

Mohammad Ali Shabani

Mohammad Ali Shabani

Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary and chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili listens during a news conference in Almaty February 27, 2013. Iran said nuclear talks with world powers were a "positive step", after two days of negotiations that ended in Almaty on Wednesday. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (KAZAKHSTAN - Tags: POLITICS ENERGY) - RTR3EC8O

Why Iran’s Supreme Leader Wants Jalili for President

Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (C) waves as he registers his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election at the interior ministry in Tehran on May 11, 2013. Rafsanjani, who has been isolated since the 2009 presidential election which saw massive street protests against the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, registered his candidacy to stand for office again. AFP PHOTO/BEHROUZ MEHRI (Photo credit should read BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images)

Rafsanjani RegistersFor High-Stakes Iranian Election

Mohammad Ali Shabani

Mohammad Ali Shabani

TEHRAN, IRAN - MAY 29: Iran's top nuclear negotiator and presidential candidate for the upcoming elections, Saeed Jalili, waves during a campaign rally, attended by his female supporters on May 29, 2013 in Tehran, Iran. Jalili, who is running in next month's presidential elections says he will promote a policy of resistance against the West if elected. The elections are scheduled for June 14 and Jalili has stated that he wishes to revive policies of the 1979 Islamic revolution that brought clerics to power.

Hard-line brothers seek to oust Iran's old guard conservatives

Rohollah Faghihi

Rohollah Faghihi