Mass disqualification of election candidates by the Guardian Council he shapes
The Guardian Council, whose six clerical members Khamenei appoints, has repeatedly barred thousands of candidates, including sitting lawmakers, a former president and a former parliament speaker. Khamenei has at times called for reviews or said rejected candidates were wronged, but endorsed the vetting, and the key bans stood.
Editorial timeline of public reporting, not a legal finding.
- More than 3,000 reformist candidates barred and lawmakers stage a sit-in - RFE/RL reported that the Guardian Council excluded more than 3,000 reformist candidates from the February 2004 parliamentary election, prompting a 12-day sit-in by lawmakers. After Khamenei called for a review, the council had reinstated only 260 of those vetoed. Iran: Deputies Continue Sit-In As Khatami Says Political Crisis Heading Toward Settlement
- Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani barred - BBC News and The Guardian reported that the Guardian Council barred former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a founding figure of the Islamic Republic, and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, approving only eight of 686 registrants. The BBC described the council as loyal to Khamenei. Iran election: Rafsanjani blocked from running for president
- Khamenei says some candidates were 'wronged', but the bans stand - The Guardian reported that Khamenei, who had endorsed the rejection of prominent figures including Ali Larijani (@alilarijani_ir) and Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, said 'some candidates were wronged' and called for their honour to be restored. The Guardian Council said its decision would not be reversed. Iran's supreme leader says rejected election candidates were 'wronged'
- Larijani barred again as only six candidates approved - BBC News reported that the Guardian Council approved only six of 80 registrants for the snap presidential election, excluding Ali Larijani and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iran International reported that Larijani called the council's process 'opaque'. Iran election: Hardliners dominate presidential candidates