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Zahra Mostafavi Khomeini, the daughter of Ayatollah Ruhollah Mostafavi Musavi Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, issued a letter, defending Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani who was earlier disqualified from participating in Iran's presidential elections, Jamaran.ir website reported.

Regarding Guardian Council's decision to disqualify Rafsanjani from participating in the election race, Khomeini's daughter sent the open letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"By the views of Ayatollah Ruhollah Mostafavi Musavi Khomeini, Rafsanjani had all the qualities to be a competent leader," she said in the letter, asking Khamenei to look into the issue, and allow Rafsanjani to participate in the presidential race.

Khomeini's daughter also noted in the letter that Rafsanjani was close to Khomeini, and was helping him during his ruling. She also wrote that Rafsanjani played a role in establishing of Islamic Revolution.

Rafsanjani was a speaker of the Iranian parliament for 10 years, then served 8 years as country's president, and is currently the head of the Expediency Council of Iran.

Zahra Mostafavi Khomeini criticized the Guardian Council's decision on Rafsanjani's disqualification, noting that "separating Rafsanjani from Khomeini is a big blow to the Islamic Revolution and the ruling system in Iran".

Her letter also said that when Khomeini spoke of competent leaders that could lead the Islamic Republic, he named Khamenei, and immediately after Rafsanjani.

Late on May 21, the Guardian Council of Iran revealed the list of names approved for participation at the upcoming presidential elections in the country.

The council said that the country's Constitution and the election law were the criteria for vetting presidential hopefuls.

The Guardian Council approved MP Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, Hassan Rohani, the director of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council, former First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi, and former Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Velayati.

Iran will hold the 11th presidential election on June 14.

The voters will select the successor of the current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is not able to participate in the elections for the third term according to the country's constitutional laws.

The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election and the Guardian Council vets the candidates for qualifications.