The registration of candidates for Iran's upcoming early presidential elections began during a ceremony at the Interior Ministry in Tehran on Thursday morning. The event marked the official start of the process leading up to the elections scheduled for June 28.

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi addressed reporters at the opening ceremony, offering condolences for the loss of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other officials in a tragic helicopter crash on May 19. "Despite the great loss, we passed this crisis smoothly and there was no disruption in the country's affairs," Vahidi stated.

The snap elections were announced in response to the sudden death of President Raisi, who, along with Amir-Abdollahian, two senior local officials, a protection officer, and three flight crew members, perished when their helicopter crashed in the mountainous regions near Iran’s Varzaqan region. The group was returning from a dam inauguration near the Republic of Azerbaijan border.

Following the incident, a council comprising the heads of the three branches of the Iranian government convened and set June 28 as the date for the snap presidential elections.

Interior Minister Vahidi had previously initiated preparations for the snap elections last weekend by issuing a decree for provincial and city governors to establish election executive committees within three days.

The candidate registration period, which commenced today, will continue until June 3. The upcoming elections are expected to fill the significant leadership void left by the untimely deaths and ensure the continued stability and governance of the country.

The opening of the registration process signifies a crucial step towards maintaining continuity in Iran's governance following the national tragedy. As the country prepares for the early elections, the international community watches closely, anticipating the impact on Iran's political landscape. (ILKHA)