Why are Iran hard-liners axing Rouhani from political scene?

TEHRAN — Iran’s domestic politics was shell-shocked this week after moderate former President Hassan Rouhani confirmed that he had been barred from running in the country’s upcoming election for a powerful clerical body. 

Rouhani was disqualified by the ultraconservative Guardian Council, which is controlled by supreme leader Ali Khamenei. The council is in charge of a strict vetting of candidates in all elections administered in the Islamic Republic. 

Iran is set to go to polls on March 1 for parliamentary elections and a vote on the Assembly of Experts, for which Rouhani had registered his candidacy. His removal occurred even while he has been a member of the very same body since 2000. Under the Iranian constitution, the assembly is tasked with appointing Iran’s supreme leader. 

Falling from grace