Iran's leadership ruled out allowing women to run for president in June elections, denying reports in the state-run media Saturday that it had decided to allow female candidates for the first time.
It was not clear whether the denial meant the Guardian Council was reversing itself or whether the earlier announcement was a mistake.
Throughout the day, state-run radio and television carried reports quoting council spokesman Gholamhossein Elham as saying the council had changed its long-standing policy and allowed women to run. However, in the evening, the media reported Elham denied the new stance.
"The Guardian Council's previous opinion has not changed," he was quoted as saying.
An official from the television's political department defended the state-run media outlets, saying they had reported Elham's initial comments correctly and it was the spokesman who had backtracked.
"It was Elham who changed his story. In both cases we were correct and did our job correctly," the official said on condition of anonymity. Elham could not be reached for comment.
