Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is challenging the ban of close aide Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei from the presidential election on June 14...
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Ahmadinejad said he would take the issue up with Supreme Leader Ayatolla Ali Khamenei.
The President described Mashaei, his former chief of staff, as a "righteous person, beneficial for the country," according to ISNA news agency.
Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was also ruled out of the shortlist of candidates - leaving the field dominated by hardline conservatives with close links to Iran's ruling clerics.
A Tehran resident said: "The decision regarding Mr. Mashaei was right my opinion, because he's really not qualified enough for the presidency. But Mr. Rafsanjani's disqualification was a real surprise, a big shock."
Out of more than 600 people who registered, only eight are being allowed to stand.
Iran's nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili is considered to be a front runner.
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