Hard-liners strike back
The week's news at a glance.
Tehran
Iran’s hard-line Guardian Council ruled this week that thousands of pro-democracy candidates were not eligible to run in parliamentary elections next month. The barred candidates, half of the more than 8,000 people running for 290 seats, include dozens of current members of parliament and the head of the largest political party. Reformist lawmakers protested at a sit-in in parliament, and the Cabinet of moderate President Mohammad Khatami threatened to resign. Khatami said the government would appeal the decisions, adding, “God willing, the Guardian Council will make amends.” The 12-member council, handpicked by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been trying to block reforms ever since moderates swept the parliamentary elections in 2000.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Today's political cartoons - December 2, 2023
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - governors go Gotham, A.I. goes to the office party, and more
By The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: December 2, 2023
Daily Briefing Death toll climbs in Gaza as airstrikes intensify, George Santos expelled from the House of Representatives, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 hilarious cartoons about the George Santos expulsion vote
Cartoons Artists take on Santa versus Santos, his X account, and more
By The Week US Published