Ghalibaf Appoints Azeri Ally Nikzad as Campaign Manager

Presidential candidate Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has appointed Ali Nikzad as chief of staff for his campaign.

Nikzad, a chameleon-like figure known for frequently shifting allegiances, was previously a minister in the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad administration and served on the election staff of Ebrahim Raisi in 2021.

According to analysts, Ghalibaf likely aimed to achieve two goals by bringing Nikzad into his fold.

First, the appointment counters the rising profile of fellow ethnic Azeri politician Masoud Pezeshkian from the reformist ranks.

Having an Azeri chief of staff could boost Ghalibaf's credentials among that influential minority.

Secondly, Nikzad's roots in Iran's conservative heartlands personify the rural, religious base Ghalibaf is courting.

He Ahmadinejad's cabinet from Ardabil province and held local administrative roles before that.

The 58-year-old Nikzad first emerged on the national stage overseeing Ahmadinejad's Mehr Housing scheme during the 2000s oil boom era.

After parting ways with the embattled Ahmadinejad in the 2010s, Nikzad realigned with Raisi and mainstream conservative fronts.

Nikzad's appointment comes amid deep fractures among Iran's conservative ranks that have intensified ahead of the June 28 presidential vote.