Rouhani to run for second term as president of Iran

Under Iranian law, there's no fee for registering.

The Iranian government ostensibly maintains its own domestic human rights monitor, but in practice his role appears to emphasize public denial of criticisms raised by foreign governments and non-governmental human rights monitors on the basis of information gleaned from Iranian political prisoners, domestic activists, and others. It's still a lot of candidates, though.

Iran may see its first female candidate for president next month as more than 600 people, including a man with five wives, throw their hat in the ring to try and replace Hassan Rouhani.

"We should always be ready especially because of the fact that we have been under military, political and economic attacks after the revolution", he said.

Several former ministers and former president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad are among those who have registered.

Raisi, 56, is a hardline cleric known for his ultra-conservative stances and great proximity with Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Vilified in the West for his barbs against America and Israel and questioning of the Holocaust, the blacksmith's son Ahmadinejad has upset predictions before by stealing the show in 2005 when he defeated powerful former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in a run-off vote. That's not to say it will be easy for Rouhani.

Every president since the early 1980s has won a second term, and Rouhani has done much to maintain his alliance of moderates and reformists - stabilising the economy and signing a landmark nuclear deal with world powers that ended many sanctions and promised a fresh start with the worldwide community. For voters, the economy matters. The council has not allowed women to run in the past. The panel also declared Ahmadinejad won the 2009 election despite widespread fraud allegations.

In relevant remarks in February, Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami underlined that the U.S. pressures can not debilitate Iran's determination and will to progress.

Rouhani is also a member of the Expediency Council and the Assembly of Experts, two influential advisory bodies in Iran's multi-tiered power structure. While Khamenei has final say on all state matters, Ahmadinejad's relationship with him had strained by the end of his time in power.

Associated Press journalists watched as stunned election officials processed Ahmadinejad's paperwork on Wednesday. Security forces answering only to the supreme leader also routinely arrest dual nationals and foreigners, using them as pawns in global negotiations.