The grandson of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini described his ban from next month's parliamentary elections Thursday as an insult to his family and said he would never beg to run.
Ali Eshraghi, who bears a marked resemblance to the late founder of Iran's Islamic republic, is one of thousands of prospective candidates excluded on the grounds they were not sufficiently loyal to the principles of Khomeini's 1979 Islamic revolution.
The 39-year-old civil engineer is among an estimated 2,000 prospective candidates, particularly reformists, who have been excluded from March's parliamentary elections.
The elections are seen as a key test of conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's hold on power before the 2009 presidential elections. He has come under increasing criticism from all sides about his failure to fix Iran's economic problems.
Despite those problems, the government feels confident about excluding candidates because of plentiful oil revenue, said Saeed Laylaz, an independent political analyst in Tehran.
"It is a sign that the government, supported by lavish oil revenue, does not need anybody, except an obedient parliament," Laylaz said. "They not only barred Khomeini's close allies but also his grandson."
Eshraghi, 39, said the hardline constitutional watchdog Guardian Council had even asked his neighbors whether he fasted and prayed.
"I do not agree with activities of barring candidates, but neither do I protest it and I will not plead with them to change their decision," Eshraghi said.
"They sent a message asking me to write a single sentence appealing the decision. I said if you think you are wrong, change your decision by yourselves."
Khomeini's family has stayed out of politics since his death, and his grandson said he would not publicly protest in order to protect his family's name.
Eshraghi, who works for the Tehran municipality, describes himself as an independent. He said the family felt his banning was an insult.
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