The story: After months of dispute between Iran’s former parliament speaker and the vetting body that ended his presidential bid earlier this year, a “confidential” letter detailing the Guardian Council’s reasons for barring Ali Larijani has been leaked to the media.

In the letter, Guardian Council Chairman Ahmad Jannati lists seven reasons why the watchdog voted to stop Larijani from running, prompting the former speaker (2008-20) to accuse the 12-member assembly of disqualifying him for no good reason...