TEHRAN (Iran News) – Spokesman Iran’s Guardian Council confirmed on Saturday that military personnel is allowed to register as presidential candidates.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Abbas Ali Kadkhodaee said the law has not forbidden those serving in the armed forces from running for president.

The regulations stipulate that military personnel are prohibited from interfering in the elections or expressing their support, but applying for candidacy per se is not forbidden as it has happened before, the spokesman added.

The next presidential election in Iran will be held in June simultaneously with council and midterm parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections.

Candidates hoping to run in the next elections are to apply in early April for approval. The final list is to be announced by the Guardian Council in early June.

Several military figures have voiced readiness to run for president so far.

The presidential election will be held on June 18, 2021.

Kadkhodaee also said the path is open for heads of the Judiciary and Legislative branches to compete in the presidential election.

Asked whether heads of the Judiciary and Legislative branches should hand in resignation before the election if they wish to compete, Khadkhodaee said “The law has not set such a ban and only those who are directly responsible for the execution of and monitoring on the election should resign before registering their candidacy.”

Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, the spokesman said meetings have already been held between Guardian Council and Interior Ministry on related issues. He said that the number of polling stations has increased by 15% as a measure to avoid crowds.

He also went on to say that if the law was amended, there would be no problem with holding the Presidential election in more than one day in the coronavirus situation.

In response to a question on whether the presidential election would be held in more than one day amid the COVID-19 situation, Kadkhodaee said: “The presidential election will be held in compliance with all health protocols, and election gatherings will be limited, as the National Task Force for Fighting Coronavirus officially declared.”

Kadkhodaie noted that people would go to cast their votes in elections by observing all health protocols.

“The number of ballot boxes will increase by 15% compared to the previous elections,” said the Guardian Council spokesman.

The Guardian Council Spokesman also added: “The plan to amend the articles of the Presidential Election Law was submitted to the parliament by the Guardian Council.”

He stressed that there had been objections to the next Iranian year’s budget (starting on March 21) and it had not been finalized yet; though, the Parliament has announced the unofficial views of the Guardian Council.