officials. the field was thrown into further disarray by a fair of unexpected developments. just before saturday's registration deadline, the ex-period threw his hat into the ring seen as a moderate. he is expected to gain support and could be a threat to the regime in general. candidates can only run if the guardian council controlled by supreme leader allows them to run. in declaring the candidacy, he could be daring the ayatollah to disqualify him. they could risk the same protest that surrounded the allegedly rigged reelection in 2009. the june election will highlight the power struggle. both men will work to stack the deck in favor of their own favorites.