Khamenei looks to tighten grip on Iran as acolytes line up for election

Telegraph - Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, whose daughter is married to Mr Khamenei's son, became the first of three trusted allies of the Supreme Leader to enter the race, which is expected to be dominated by Khamenei acolytes.

Senior representatives of Iran's reformist camp, who led the failed "Green Revolution" protests after the disputed 2009 elections, are unlikely to be allowed to run at all in the contest.

But the Supreme Leader is fending off challenges from the faction led by Iran's outgoing president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is legally obliged to step down after serving two terms.

Mr Khamenei, who wields ultimate authority in Iran, originally backed Mr Ahmadinejad when he won re-election in 2009. However, the two men have since fallen out over Mr Ahmadinejad's populist style, which the Supreme Leader is believed to have seen as a threat to his own power.

Mr Ahmadinejad's own favoured successor, Afsandyar Rahim Mashaei, has until the end of today to register his desire to be a candidate, but it is thought that if he does so, Iran's Guardian Council, which scrutinises all bidders for political office, is likely to veto his candidacy.

Mr Mashaei, a close political adviser to Mr Ahmadinejad, has upset the clerical establishment because of a political approach that emphasises Iran's strong sense of national identity, as opposed to its religious one.

"It is likely that Mr Mashaei will not be allowed to stand because he is not seen as having the necessary religious purity," said Sir Richard Dalton, a former British ambassador to Iran now attached to foreign affairs think tank Chatham House.

In the past, Iran has prided itself on its elections offering voters at least a degree of choice, albeit between candidates who endorse its system of religious government to a greater or lesser extent.

But if even pro-Ahmadinejad candidates are barred from entering the race, it will leave the poll with almost no credibility whatsoever, with the option of choosing only one pro-Khamenei hardliner or another.

The only prominent reformist to have registered his candidacy so far is Mohammad Reza Aref, who served as vice-president under former president Mohammad Khatami, the reformist leader, between 1997 and 2005. Most observers, however, believe his candidacy will ultimately also be vetoed.