Despite his success as mayor, Ghalibaf’s ambitions reached beyond municipal governance. He ran for president of Iran on three separate occasions: in 2005, 2013, and 2017. However, each of these attempts ended in defeat.
In the 2005 presidential election, Ghalibaf was one of the main candidates, but he finished in fourth place. His second bid for the presidency came in 2013, where he was viewed as a serious contender. In the first round of voting, Ghalibaf came in second place, but he ultimately lost to Hassan Rouhani, who won the presidency with a decisive margin in the second round. Ghalibaf’s loss in 2013 was particularly significant as it marked the second time he had failed to secure the presidency despite being one of the top contenders.
In 2017, Ghalibaf made another run for president, but again fell short of victory. His third candidacy was somewhat overshadowed by the rise of other prominent political figures, including Rouhani, who was seeking re-election. Despite his failure in the presidential races, Ghalibaf’s repeated candidacies demonstrated his enduring popularity and influence in Iran’s political arena, especially among conservatives and hardliners.
