Iran: Rowhani undecided about candidacy

by rahul | September 18, 2008 at 05:42 am

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As former Iranian President Khatami decided to stand off the presidential electoral race, there is now more pressure on the reformists to decide on their candidate. Now, cleric and Head of the Iranian Assembly of Expert's Center for Strategic Research Hojjatoleslam Hassan Rohani, is not sure over his participation either; Rowhani is backed by the Moderation and Development Party. Were he to step down his electoral ambitions, there would be most chances for the emergence of Karroubi as the reformist candidate. Khatami is expected to back Karroubi

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:33:54 GMT Head of the Iranian Assembly of Expert's Center for Strategic Research says he has not yet made a decision on running for president. Hojjatoleslam Hassan Rowhani's Wednesday remarks came on the heels of a statement by Mehdi Karroubi, the secretary general of the National Confidence Party, who last week told Fars News Agency that it appeared Mr. Rowhani was going to register as a candidate in the next presidential election.
Karroubi said that Rowhani's candidacy would lead to massive participation in the elections, calling it a "positive step." The Islamic Republic of Iran will hold its tenth presidential election on June 12, 2009. Rowhani refused to comment when asked whether former president Seyyed Mohammad Khatami would run in the election or not. Mohammad Khatami has announced that he will not run for next year's presidential elections. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Khatami was elected president in 1997 and again in 2001 on a reformist platform. AR/JG/PA, Original source at PressTV

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