Iran begins registering candidates for key presidential poll
Candidates vying for presidency in Iran were given five days to register their bid in an election that is expected to revolve around the economy and the fragile nuclear deal.
The registration of candidates for Iran's June 18 presidential election officially began in the country's Interior Ministry headquarters May 11 and will continue for five days.
According to Iranian media, on the very first day 57 hopefuls showed up for registration. Traditionally, candidates standing valid chances of victory hold off their appearance until only a few hours before the deadline.
Yet at least two candidates stood up from among Tuesday's crowd: Hossein Dehghan and Saeed Mohammad, both military generals affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
At stake in the upcoming election is the economy, which has been tremendously battered by US sanctions, reimposed after the Iran nuclear deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The revival of the accord is currently being indirectly negotiated by Iran and the United States in the Austrian capital, Vienna.
