President Ahmadinejad calls the shortlist an "act of oppression" because his favorite guy wasn't chosen. Also cut from the list? Open critics of how the regime handled the 2009 protests. (Surprise, surprise.)

Among those approved for the June ballot are Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, prominent lawmaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, former foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayati and Tehran mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf — all top Khamenei loyalists. Former chief of the Revolutionary Guards Mohsen Rezaei and a little known former minister, Mohammad Gharazi, have also been approved.

Only two of are considered pro-reform figures: Former top nuclear negotiator Hasan Rowhani and former first vice president Mohammad Reza Aref, but neither have yet gained any strong following among moderates and liberals after years of crackdowns by authorities.

Most hope for an opposition revival had rested with former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was not approved by the Guardian Council after hardliner complaints. Rafsanjani had openly [criticized] the heavy-handed tactics used to crush protests in 2009 following the disputed re-election of Ahmadinejad.

The ruling dealt a serious blow to Ahmadinejad’s hopes of having a loyalist succeed him. He can’t run in the June 14 ballot due to term limits under Iran’s constitution.

Depressing. But who knows what subversion lurks in the hearts of (outwardly obedient) Iranian politicians? A clever Dubcek might wiggle his way into the presidency.