The strange case of the acceptance of Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili's registration, despite not meeting the conditions of the first clause of the National Election Headquarters' announcement.

To elaborate on the controversies surrounding the certification of several government members to the Guardian Council, particularly regarding Esmaeili, the current Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, I must point out that at the time of his registration, he did not have the required four years of experience in senior management, which is a condition for registering in the presidential election.

Why?

According to Announcement No. 1 of the National Election Headquarters, it was stated that, 'Based on Article 35 of the Presidential Election Law, candidates at the time of registration must meet 11 conditions.'

Clause one of this announcement states:

1. A minimum of four years of cumulative experience in the following positions, where the duration of experience in one or more of the mentioned positions is sufficient:

1-1 Political figures as specified in sections (a), (b), and (c) of Article 71 of the Civil Service Management Law, ratified on 1386/8/7 [October 29, 2007].

1-2 Vice Presidents of the heads of the three branches of government.

1-3 Members of the Supreme National Security Council.

1-4 Members of the Expediency Council.

1-5 Director of the Center for Seminary Management.

1-6 Heads of national-level organizations, institutions, government bodies, and public non-governmental institutions.

1-7 Senior military commanders with the rank of Lieutenant General and higher.

1-8 President of the Islamic Azad University at the national level.

1-9 Governors.

1-10 Mayors of cities with over two million residents.

1-11 Individuals, officials, and managers of equivalent positions, as determined by the Guardian Council.

In section 1-6, four years of experience in senior management is specified.

Mr. Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili has three years of ministerial experience, and the rest of his experience is as Deputy Governor, which is not equivalent to any of the positions listed in Article 71 of the Civil Service Management Law, as mentioned in Announcement No. 1 of the National Election Headquarters.

Therefore, Mr. Esmaeili’s registration as a minister in Ebrahim Raisi's government, according to the explicit announcement of the National Election Headquarters, is against the law—unless Mr. Esmaeili has held another hidden position that we are unaware of! Or perhaps the Election Headquarters and the Guardian Council have higher considerations or other convincing reasons.

What do you think of the head of the National Election Headquarters, who refused the candidacy of the president’s brother, despite him being a judge, lawyer, head of the Prisons Organization, and Deputy Minister of Justice, and also refused other figures like Mrs. Ahmadi Pour, the Vice President at the time, and other respected candidates? What interpretation of the law or what subtle indications allowed him to accept Mr. Esmaeili’s registration?"