The president of the Islamic Republic is not the head of state. That title belongs to the leader of the Islamic Republic, the position created by and for Ayatollah Khomeini and currently held by Ayatollah Khamene'i. Nevertheless, the president is the head of the executive branch of government, and under the 1989 amendments to the constitution wields considerable power. The president is elected by universal suffrage in a secret ballot. In order to win, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes cast. If one candidate fails to secure a majority after a single round of voting, a run-off between the top two candidates is held at a later date.
Prospective candidates must be approved by the Council of Guardians. According to Article 115 of the constitution, a presidential candidate must be a political personality to be eligible. The use of the Arabic word rajol [man] clearly denotes that the personality cannot be a woman. A candidate must have also a firm belief in the principles of the Islamic Republic, be a devout Shi'a Muslim, possess management skills, and have a reputation for integrity, wisdom, and piety. Candidates register with the Ministry of Interior, which then forwards the file to the Council of Guardians for approval. The twelve-day official election campaign period begins after the Council of Guardians announces its decision on the candidates eligible to stand.
By the deadline for registration, April 29, 1997, 238 candidates had applied, including nine women. On May 8, the Council of Guardians announced that it had vetoed all but four of the candidates: Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri, former Minister of Islamic Guidance Mohammad Khatami, former Minister of Information Mohammad Mohammadi-Reyshahri, and judicial advisor Reza Zavarei, who is a member of the Council of Guardians. Nateq-Nouri and Khatami are viewed as the leading candidates. Nateq-Nouri is supported by the Jame-e Ruhaniyat-e Mobarez (Militant Clerics Society, JRM), the major clerical political organization and the dominant force in the current parliament. The JRM is generally conservative on social issues, such as the role of women, and is close to the powerful bazaar merchants who have prospered under the Islamic Republic. Khatami has the support of the Kargozaran-e Sazandegi (Servants of Construction), a group of technocrats who advocate greater integration into the global economy and are generally more progressive on social issues. Khatami also has the support of the Majma-e Ruhaniyun-e Mobarez (Militant Clergymen's Association, MRM), a clerical group committed to a broader redistribution of wealth. Outgoing President Rafsanjani has not endorsed any candidate. He is closely associated with both the JRM and the Servants of Construction, so both leading candidates can claim to be following in his footsteps.