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Ahmadinejad ally Mashaie enters Iranian presidential race Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, Ahmadinejad's former chief of staff and alleged political heir, registers as a candidate for the upcoming presidential elections in Iran
An ally of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the centre of a split in Iran's leadership registered on Saturday as a candidate in Iran's 14 June presidential election, the Iranian Students' News Agency reported. Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, Ahmadinejad's former chief of staff, has been accused by conservative hardliners close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as leading a "deviant current" that seeks to erode Islamic clerical authority in favour of a more nationalistic doctrine. Mashaie's candidacy must still be approved by the conservative body of clerics and jurists known as the Guardian Council. It is expected to issue a final list of approved candidates in 10 days' time. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/71203.aspx