Iran’s Guardian Council on April 20 agreed on six individuals to be allowed to compete in the May 19 presidential elections. The absence of one name caught many by surprise: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The late-night announcement ended speculations about whether the former two-term president (2005-2013) would be allowed to run.
The Guardian Council made its decision amid harsh criticisms of Ahmadinejad’s record, performance in office and even personal manner by his opponents.