Most Iran Reform Candidates Disqualified

Guardian reported Iran's hard-line Guardian Council on Sunday rejected all reformists who registered to run in presidential elections, approving only six out of the 1,010 hopefuls. Leaders of the reform movement threatened to boycott the vote. The final list effectively barred reformers seeking democratic changes within the ruling Islamic establishment from the presidential race. The move came as ruling clerics seek to consolidate their power in the June 17 vote following the departure of reformist President Mohammad Khatami. Iran also is facing international pressure over its controversial nuclear program, trying to convince the United States and Europe that it is not seeking to develop weapons. The approved candidates included powerful former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, who moves frequently between the hard-line and more moderate camps and was seen as a front-runner in the race. A leader of the Islamic Iran Participation Front, Iran's largest reformist party, said his party will boycott the polls. ``We are warning the Guardian Council that we will not participate in the election if it doesn't reverse its decision,'' top party member Rajabali Mazrouei told The Associated Press.

Looks like the dominos are not falling in Iran. YET