Iran Election: Young Voters Face Limited Choices, Outdated Narratives

Pakdel's Instagram post suggested that politics transform "stupid men into special diet cutlets". The term "cutlet" gained notoriety following the death of IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani in a 2020 US drone strike, which left his body mutilated.

The crackdown has intensified in the wake of the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and several companions in East Azarbaijan province last month. The incident, which led to widespread public celebrations, was seen by many as a repudiation of Raisi's oppressive policies with the government responding harshly to the expressions of joy.

Dozens were detained for their online celebrations, actions that the Tehran Prosecutor's Office claimed were necessary to maintain social order.

He is one of dozens of public figures from fields such as entertainment and sport to be heavily punished as the government fights ongoing dissent in the wake of the 2022 uprising. Many have been punished not only with prison sentences but with the likes of bank account freezes, travel bans, pay cuts and working bans.

The controversial politician, largely marginalized by the ruling establishment for almost a decade, has submitted his candidacy for the forthcoming snap presidential elections, pending approval from the Guardian Council.

Aligned with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Guardian Council prohibited Ahmadinejad from participating in both the 2017 and 2021 presidential contests. After his disqualification in 2017, the polarizing figure became a prominent detractor of the governing elite, openly criticizing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Ahmadinejad's show of force on Thursday could be an attempt to demonstrate his popularity among ordinary Iranians to the ruling establishment that commentators say will not allow him to run for the presidency.

In an act of defiance against the Guardian Council's previous disqualification, Ahmadinejad met his supporters as they showered him with compliments and fervently declared him their chosen president.

The Guardian Council will announce the approved candidates next week, with the election scheduled for June 28. Candidates who have been approved will have the opportunity to campaign in the two weeks prior to the election. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes, a run-off election will be held on July 5.

After two years of relative silence, which some attribute to his reinstated membership in the Expediency Council by the Supreme Leader, Ahmadinejad emerged from obscurity to offer commentary on a promising future for Iranians following President Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash last month.

According to political commentator Jaber Rajabi, speaking on an Iran International panel show, the Supreme Leader's decision to renew Ahmadinejad's membership in the Expediency Council is perceived as an attempt to appease him to some extent, although genuine trust in him is lacking.

“When queried about his decision to retain Ahmadinejad within the council, Khamenei reportedly likened it to housing a man whose arm has been removed, within a mosque to prevent the recurring theft of footwear,” Rajabi said on Chashm Andaz panel show.

Ahmadinejad, known for his outspokenness regarding the regime's corruption and covert activities, notably acknowledged that Israel's Mossad stole significant documents about Iran's nuclear endeavors from within the country.

In 2021, Ahmadinejad said the highest-ranking Iranian intelligence official in charge of countering Israeli spies in Iran was himself an agent of Israel.

The 45-year-old cleric from Bukan in West Azarbaijan Province was arrested in November 2022 amid the nationwide protests for his participation in a memorial service for Asad Rahimi, a victim of the nationwide uprising, and was charged with "corruption on earth" by the Revolutionary Court.

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported that the sentence was upheld by Branch 41 of the Supreme Court under Judge Ali Razini. The initial trial was criticized for its lack of due process, conducted over four brief sessions without legal representation for Khezrnejad, and based on reports without considering his defense.

Despite his advocacy for religious tolerance and opposition to extremism, Khazranejad was accused of collaborating with extremist groups as the regime continues its oppression of the Sunni minority.

His arrest and subsequent sentencing are part of a broader pattern of repression following the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, during which Khezrnejad criticized the government's harsh responses to protests. Reports indicate he was subjected to torture and coerced into making false confessions while detained.

More than 240 Kurdish Sunni clerics and 14 religious reformists have called for his release, appealing to the United Nations to intervene.

A report by Amnesty International highlights that Iran spearheaded an increase in recorded executions in 2023, with at least 853 individuals officially executed.

In a joint statement following a conference with Arab states in Beijing on Sunday, China outlined its position on the three disputed islands in the Persian Gulf—Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa—suggesting that the issue should be negotiated with the UAE.

Beijing has not revised its stance, despite drawing anger from the Iranian foreign ministry on Sunday, which summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest China's "repeated support" for the UAE's "baseless claims".

State-controlled Chinese media, however, chose to highlight the robust relationship and economic ties between Beijing and Tehran, echoing the official government stance. Even slightly oppositional media outlets chose to emphasize China's strengths -- suggesting that Tehran ultimately needs Beijing.

Since the British withdrew from what is now the UAE in 1971, the three islands in the Persian Gulf have been disputed. That year, Iran's then-monarch, Mohammad Reza Shah, ordered the country's navy to occupy all three islands. Iranian forces continue to be stationed there, with only Abu Musa having a significant civilian population of several thousand.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP), a Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper, asserted on Tuesday that China's unanimity with Abu Dhabi for discussions over the disputed islands in the Persian Gulf "will not seriously harm its relationship with Iran" since “Iran cannot get away from China.”

“China has a lot of leverage over Iran as its biggest partner,” an analyst told SCMP.

On Monday, Mao Ning, spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said that China has maintained a consistent position on the three islands issue, urging both sides to resolve their differences peacefully through dialogue and consultation.”

Yang Wei, a columnist for the Manhattan-based Epoch Times, a media company with outspoken criticism of the Chinese communist party, took a firmer stance in his article that the “CCP and Iran are using each other, and the Middle Eastern countries are fully aware of this. The CCP has no intention of solving the substantive problems in the Middle East, nor can it do so. On the contrary, it has been trying to disrupt the situation and provoke conflicts.”

According to Iranian analysts, the Islamic Republic’s foreign relations strategy is backfiring because it relies heavily on the East rather than the West.

As former Iranian diplomat Hossein Alizadeh pointed out, Iran’s close ties with China and Russia could leave the Islamic Republic vulnerable to potential pressure from these nations at a critical time.

“By limiting its foreign relations to just two countries, the Islamic Republic opens itself up to potential pressure at the most opportune time for these nations,” Alizadeh told Iran International.

Referring to the territorial friction between Taiwan and China, Alizadeh explained that Iran does not engage in a tit-for-tat strategy with China: “Iran could retaliate by recognizing Taiwan's sovereignty against China, but they won’t.” they instead “lie to the nation.”

China issued a similar joint statement in 2022 during a meeting with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The statement contained several clauses related directly to Iranian affairs, the Iranian nuclear program, and the UAE's claim to three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf.

Once the joint statement was reported in the media, Iranians reacted strongly, accusing the Islamic Republic of being so weak that its ally China was subtly endorsing the UAE claim.

“At the time, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian lied to people, saying they talked to their Chinese allies and they corrected themselves,” Alizadeh said.

Nevertheless, China is not the first Iranian ally to support its adversary.

In December last year, Iranian media similarly and strongly criticized Russia for endorsing the UAE's claims.

Deputy commander of the police force, Ghasem Rezaei announced that the forces are tasked with "controlling the beaches and recreation areas and maintaining order," particularly focusing on ensuring compliance with the nation’s mandatory hijab.

The police operation will place officers directly along the northern coastlines, with Rezaei warning that any “deviation” from the government-imposed norms will be met with legal consequences.

Every year, with the arrival of summer and the rising temperatures in Iran, the enforcement of hijab by the police intensifies.

Despite the government's strict enforcement of mandatory hijab, a movement of civil disobedience persists. Swathes of women are increasingly visible in public areas without a hijab, actively protesting against the restrictive mandates.

The commander-in-chief of the police force, Ahmadreza Radan, previously announced an electronic surveillance initiative for the northern beaches, signaling a broader crackdown to monitor and control beachgoers.

The intensified enforcement follows widespread protests in 2022 triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of police for not wearing her hijab properly.