TEHERAN — Iran's Constitutional Council spokesman Hadi Tahan Nazif announced on Tuesday the start of the process to vet the registered candidates for the country's 14th presidential election, scheduled for June 28.

Tahan Nazif said in an interview with state-run IRIB TV that the council sought to complete the assessment of candidates' qualifications within five days, while noting that the country's law permits an extension of the vetting process by an additional five days if necessary.

According to Iran's election headquarters, after the vetting process, the Interior Ministry would announce the final candidates on June 11, and the qualified candidates would have 15 days, from June 12 to June 26, to conduct their electoral campaigns.

The candidates include former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Teheran mayor Alireza Zakani and member of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council Saeed Jalili.

Four former female MPs, namely Zohreh Elahian, Hamideh Zarabadi, Hajar Chenarani, and Rafat Bayat, are also in the race, according to the official news agency IRNA.

Despite initial speculation, Iran's Interim President Mohammad Mokhber did not enter the presidential race.

At a ceremony in southern Teheran on Monday, commemorating the 35th anniversary of the passing of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Iranian nation would need an "active, hardworking and cognizant president, who is committed to the basics of the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution".

The 14th presidential election, originally scheduled for 2025, was brought forward due to the unexpected death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19 in the northwestern province of East Azerbaijan.

According to Iran's Constitution, the first vice-president assumes executive duties under such circumstances, with the interim president required to organize a new presidential election within a maximum of 50 days.