Iran Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani has called on unsuccessful presidential hopefuls and those approved to stand in the race to respect the law and the Constitution in the wake of next months vote.He said on Wednesday that the decisions by the Guardian Council - a 12-member body consisting of six jurists and six theologians - were made in the right direction to create yet another epic election on June 14.
Amoli Larijani further noted that the top constitutional supervisory body has the final say in vetting candidates and those who were not approved should abide by the law.
The senior Iranian official also asked the candidates to refrain from character assassination during presidential debates.
Irans Interior Ministry on Wednesday published the list of hopefuls approved to run in the countrys 11th presidential election.
The candidates are Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi, President of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, Secretary of the Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, Iranian lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel and Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf.
The eight candidates were approved by the Guardian Council after a 10-day vetting process.
The Council has not approved, among others, former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, and a close aide to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Esfandiyar Rahim Mashaei.
By Press TV
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