Even before Thursday's comments by Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, chances for a woman candidate in Iran's presidential election were considered nearly impossible.
Iran's constitution uses a word denoting only a male president.
The semi-official Mehr news agency quotes Yazdi as saying the "law does not approve" of a woman in Iran's highest elected office and that this is "not allowed."
Women, however, have been elected lawmakers and serve in the parliament.
The Guardian Council, where Yazdi is a member, vets all candidates. A total of 686 people have registered to replace President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The final list will be announced next Tuesday.
