The conservative speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on Monday registered his candidacy for the snap presidential election on June 28.

The election was originally to be held in 2025 but was brought forward following the unexpected death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi on May 19.

Raisi and seven members of his entourage, including foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were killed when their helicopter crashed on a fog-shrouded mountainside in northern Iran.

Like all the other hopefuls, Ghalibaf now has to wait until June 11 to see if his candidacy is approved by the Guardian Council, a conservative-dominated, 12-strong body of jurists, either appointed or approved by the supreme leader, which vets all candidates for public office.

This is Ghalibaf's fourth run at the presidency, following bids in 2005, 2013 and 2017. On his last attempt, Ghalibaf withdrew in favour of Raisi, who finished second to the moderate incumbent Hassan Rouhani.

"If I don't run for election, the work that we have started in the last few years to solve the economic problem of the people... will not be completed," he said after submitting his registration.

He added that if he did not believe that Iran's economic and social problems could be solved he "would never have entered the field of competition".

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Ghalibaf, 62, is a former commander of the air force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the ideological arm of Iran's military.

The conservative politician was elected the speaker of the new Iranian parliament on 28 of May. He also held the post in the previous legislature.

An Iran-Iraq war veteran, Ghalibaf was mayor of Tehran from 2005 to 2017 and before that was chief of the Iranian police forces.

Candidate registration opened on Thursday and closes on Monday.

Other prominent figures including former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, moderate ex-parliament speaker Ali Larijani and ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili have also registered their bids.

The conservative speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on Monday registered his candidacy for the snap presidential election on June 28. The election was originally to be held in 2025 but was brought forward following the unexpected death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi on May 19.

The conservative speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on Monday registered his candidacy for the snap presidential election on June 28. The election was originally to be held in 2025 but was brought forward following the unexpected death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi on May 19. Raisi and seven members of his entourage, including foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were killed when their helicopter crashed on a fog-shrouded mountainside in northern Iran. Like all the other hopefuls, Ghalibaf now has to wait until June 11 to see if his candidacy is approved by the Guardian Council, a conservative-dominated, 12-strong body of jurists, either appointed or approved by the supreme leader, which vets all candidates for public office. This is Ghalibaf's fourth run at the presidency, following bids in 2005, 2013 and 2017. On his last attempt, Ghalibaf withdrew in favour of Raisi, who finished second to the moderate incumbent Hassan Rouhani. "If I don't run for election, the work that we have started in the last few years to solve the economic problem of the people... will not be completed," he said after submitting his registration. He added that if he did not believe that Iran's economic and social problems could be solved he "would never have entered the field of competition". Also read: Foreign national detained in Romania for throwing molotov cocktail outside Israeli embassy Ghalibaf, 62, is a former commander of the air force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the ideological arm of Iran's military. The conservative politician was elected the speaker of the new Iranian parliament on 28 of May. He also held the post in the previous legislature. An Iran-Iraq war veteran, Ghalibaf was mayor of Tehran from 2005 to 2017 and before that was chief of the Iranian police forces. Candidate registration opened on Thursday and closes on Monday. Other prominent figures including former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, moderate ex-parliament speaker Ali Larijani and ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili have also registered their bids.

Iran parliament speaker Ghalibaf launches presidential bid

India's Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will go to Iran on Wednesday (May 21) to take part in an official ceremony in honour of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who died in a helicopter crash, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

India's Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will go to Iran on Wednesday (May 21) to take part in an official ceremony in honour of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who died in a helicopter crash, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. On Tuesday, India declared a day of official mourning in honour of Raisi. "Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar will pay a visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran on May 22 to attend the official ceremony to pay condolences on the tragic demise of President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other Iranian officials in an unfortunate helicopter crash on May 19," an MEA statement said on Tuesday. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu have expressed their condolences on Raisi's passing. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid a visit to the Iranian embassy on Tuesday to express India's condolences over the deaths. Also read: Iran helicopter crash: Finger ring helped rescuers identify Raisi’s dead body, watch "Visited the Embassy of Iran in Delhi today to convey our deepest condolences on the tragic passing away of President Ebrahim Raisi and my colleague, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. They will always be remembered as friends of India who contributed immensely to the growth of the India-Iran relationship. Government of India stands in solidarity with the people of Iran at this very difficult time," Jaishankar wrote on X. Also read: Iran turned to US for assistance after Raisi helicopter crash; 'logistical issues' impeded help Following a helicopter accident in a foggy, hilly area in the country's northwest, the bodies of the president, foreign minister, and numerous other officials were discovered in Iran on Monday, according to state media reports. Raisi, 63, and his entourage were on their way to Tabriz after visiting a village near the Azerbaijan-Iran border on Sunday. (With inputs from agencies)

India’s VP Jagdeep Dhankhar to visit Iran, pay condolences to Ebrahim Raisi, FM at funeral

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian died in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, Iranian media reported on Monday (May 20).

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian died in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, Iranian media reported on Monday (May 20). Iran's Mehr news agency confirmed the deaths, reporting that "all passengers of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister were martyred." Later, Deputy President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri also confirmed the deaths. State TV reported that images from the crash site showed that the helicopter slammed into a mountain peak. Raisi, Amirabdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and other Iranian officials were onboard the US-made Bell 212 helicopter. Click here to follow all updates on the helicopter crash that killed Ebrahim Raisi Raisi, 63, became Iran's president in 2021 and his term so far was marked by tightening of morality laws, a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests, and an intensification in nuclear talks with world powers. A timeline of what led to the tragic crash: > Ebrahim Raisi was inaugurating a joint dam project with Azerbaijan on Sunday on the shared border before he and others boarded a helicopter that made a hard landing in heavy fog on the return journey. > Raisi's convoy included three helicopters. Two of these helicopters landed safely in the northwestern city of Tabriz. However, the helicopter that was carrying the 63-year-old crashed. > Iranian media reported that the helicopter crashed in the Jolfa region of East Azerbaijan province amid poor weather conditions. Also read | Ebrahim Raisi dies in helicopter crash: All about Vietnam war-era chopper carrying the Iran president > Speaking to the news agency Reuters, an Iranian official had said that the lives of Raisi and Amirabdollahian were at risk following the crash. > Iranian media shared multiple images of what appeared to be the wreckage of the helicopter. > A total of 73 rescue teams were dispatched for the search and rescue operations. However, the poor weather conditions were hampering their efforts. Also watch | Iran President Raisi, Foreign Minister Abdollahian killed in chopper crash × > Early Monday, Iran's Red Crescent chief Pirhossein Koolivand said rescue teams had located the helicopter and were heading towards the site. Iranian media, meanwhile, said that there were no signs of life among the passengers. > Later in the day, state media confirmed that Raisi, Amirabdollahian, and all other passengers onboard the aircraft died. This development was also confirmed by Iran's Deputy President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri. > Mohammad Mokhber, 68, Iran's vice president, is expected to become interim president following the death of Raisi. (With inputs from agencies)

Ebrahim Raisi helicopter crash: A timeline of how the Iranian president died

A day after a Revolutionary Guards officer Colonel Sayyad Khodai was gunned down by assailants, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi vowed to take revenge.

Khodai was reportedly killed as motorcycle bound assailants shot the Revolutionary Guards commander outside his house.

"I insist on the serious pursuit of the killers by security officials, and I have no doubt that the blood of this great martyr will be avenged," Raisi said. No group has taken responsibility for the killing so far.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/colonel-of-irans-dangerous-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corp-assassinated-in-tehran-481393">Read:&nbsp;</a><a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/colonel-of-irans-dangerous-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corp-assassinated-in-tehran-481393" hreflang="en">Colonel of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps assassinated in Tehran</a>

Raisi added that "global arrogance can be seen in this crime" without naming anyone. Khodai's assassination&nbsp;comes nearly two years after the killing of Iran's nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh who was killed in November 2020.

Khodai was reportedly killed while he was in his car as the assains pumped five bullets killing the Revolutionary Guards commander as officials began their investigations.

Watch: Colonel Sayyad Khodai shot dead in Tehran attack

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The killing comes as Iran continues to engage with Western powers to restore the 2015 nuclear deal.&nbsp;

Iran has demanded the Revolutionary Guards be taken off the US terrorist list and th Biden administration to lift all sanctions which were&nbsp;imposed by former president Trump who had pulled the US out of the nuclear deal.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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A day after a Revolutionary Guards officer Colonel Sayyad Khodai was gunned down by assailants, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi vowed to take revenge. Khodai was reportedly killed as motorcycle bound assailants shot the Revolutionary Guards commander outside his house.

A day after a Revolutionary Guards officer Colonel Sayyad Khodai was gunned down by assailants, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi vowed to take revenge. Khodai was reportedly killed as motorcycle bound assailants shot the Revolutionary Guards commander outside his house. "I insist on the serious pursuit of the killers by security officials, and I have no doubt that the blood of this great martyr will be avenged," Raisi said. No group has taken responsibility for the killing so far. Read: Colonel of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps assassinated in Tehran Raisi added that "global arrogance can be seen in this crime" without naming anyone. Khodai's assassination comes nearly two years after the killing of Iran's nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh who was killed in November 2020. Khodai was reportedly killed while he was in his car as the assains pumped five bullets killing the Revolutionary Guards commander as officials began their investigations. Watch: Colonel Sayyad Khodai shot dead in Tehran attack The killing comes as Iran continues to engage with Western powers to restore the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran has demanded the Revolutionary Guards be taken off the US terrorist list and th Biden administration to lift all sanctions which were imposed by former president Trump who had pulled the US out of the nuclear deal. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Iran President Raisi vows revenge over Revolutionary Guards officer's killing