Among those now on the approved list for the June 14 elections are Saeed Jalili, who is Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, a lawmaker whose daughter is married to Mr Khamenei’s son, Ali Akbar Velayati, a former foreign minister, and Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, a former police chief who is now mayor of Tehran. All are viewed as loyal to Mr Khamenei. Two other candidates, Hasan Rowhani, a former nuclear negotiator, and Mohammad Reza Aref, a former vice president, are running on a reformist ticket, but neither are seen as heavyweight challengers.