Growing disenchantment spurs 7,200 Iranians to sign up for election run

Approximately 7,200 people, 590 of them women, have registered to run in Iran’s parliamentary elections, which will be held in March, Reuters reported Saturday.

Opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are hoping to benefit from growing disenchantment with his failure to deliver on promised economic change. However, it is expected that the conservative-controlled Guardian Council, which vets election candidates, will block many of the candidates.

Though the results of this election will not directly influence major policy decisions, such as those relating to Iran’s controversial nuclear program – which are decided upon by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – those elected may influence the debate and provide political challenges to Ahmadinejad.

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