Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani and leading hardliner, Ebrahim Raisi, have both been approved to run in elections

   Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani and leading hardliner, Ebrahim Raisi, have both been approved to run in elections next month.

 However former President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was barred from standing by a government-controlled vetting body, as was his close ally Hamid Baghaie.
  A final list of candidates for the 19 May poll will be announced on 27 April. More than 1,600 candidates sought to stand, but only about six are selected by the Guardian Council.
   The nominations of Rouhani and Raisi will lead to a showdown between divided political camps.