In a new development before Iran’s March 2024 parliamentary elections, former Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri is reportedly registering as a candidate.

A website in Tehran reported Monday that Jahangiri, who is a centrist politician by Islamic Republic’s political standards, is seriously considering running in the elections, although almost all reformists and centrists remain non-committal.

In the 2020 legislative elections, the Guardian Council, a constitutional watchdog loyal to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that vets candidates, disqualified hundreds of non-hardliners, and many believe this can be repeated in the upcoming vote.

Observers say that reformists, former regime officials and other non-hardliners would like to see guarantees from the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that they will not be blocked before putting forth their candidacy.

It is not clear if Jahangiri’s reported willingness to take part in the elections is a single case, or it is a sign that other politicians will also register.

The uncertainty among politicians who are part of the regime also stems from another reality. After the 2022-2023 nationwide protests during which millions demanded regime change, analysts have been predicting a low turnout in future elections controlled and manipulated by the government.

This will further erode what little legitimacy the Islamic Republic has retained and dozens of former lawmakers and politicians have argued that the ruling core of the regime should be more tolerant and allow those who are against the constitution to run in the elections.