TEHRAN – Grand Ayatollahs Makarem Shirazi, Nouri Hamedani, Safi Golpaygani, Javadi Amoli and Sobhani do not support any particular presidential candidate, their offices have announced in separate statements.

According to the statements, Marja-e taqlids (clerics who are experts in Islamic jurisprudence) and ulema do not support any particular candidates in the June presidential election.
The offices of Makarem Shirazi, Nouri Hamedani and Sobhani dismissed rumors by media that the grand ayatollahs would back any presidential candidates, announcing it is beneath dignity of a Marja-e taqlid to support any candidate.
Ayatollah Safi Golpaygani does not back any particular person, his office announced, adding that the ayatollah regards a person as suitable for the presidential post who will be a guardian of Iran’s independence and its Islamic nature and make efforts to serve the lower classes of the society.