Iran’s Rouhani “Barred” From Seeking Reelection to Assembly of Experts

Former President Hassan Rouhani has been banned from standing again in an election in March for the Assembly of Experts, a chamber of theologians that appoints the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader and oversees his work, state media reported on January 24.

Rouhani's official website cited an unidentified official at the Guardian Council, a body that vets candidates in all elections in Iran, as saying that the jurists "did not approve" his candidacy for a new term on the Assembly of Experts. 

It did not elaborate on the reason.

"There was no reason given for the Guardian Council's decision," a source close to Rouhani told Reuters news agency, adding that Rouhani has three days to appeal.

"Rouhani has been a member of the assembly since 1999 for three terms...it will be interesting to see what the reason for his disqualification was," the source said.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on almost every decision in Iran, “has humilitated (sic) every president who served under him – [Akbar Hashemi] Rafsanjani to Rouhani,” said Jason Brodsky, policy director at the US non-profit advocacy organization United Against Nuclear Iran.

“Also this is a signal that Khamenei doesn't want Rouhani even near a key institution as succession looms large. A further consolidation, purification, and purge,” he wrote on the social media platform X.

The post of supreme leader has been held since 1989 by Khamenei, now 84.

The new Assembly of Experts is expected to play a significant role in choosing his successor since its members are only elected every eight years.

Close to moderates, Rouhani served as Iran's president from 2013 to 2021. 

He was elected president twice on promises to reduce Iran's diplomatic isolation, but the cleric angered political hardliners who opposed any rapprochement with the US.

Since leaving office, Rouhani has criticized the administration of the current president, Ebrahim Raisi, and the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Iranian registered voters will be called to polling stations on March 1 to choose among thousands of candidates running for seats in the 290-seat parliament and the 88-member Assembly of Experts.

A low turnout is expected, with the Guardian Council having already disqualified hundreds of candidates.