Khatami 'will make election comeback'

A former high-ranking Khatami official says the former Iranian president will 'definitely' run for office in the next presidential election.  Hossein Marashi, the vice president for cultural heritage and tourism in the Khatami administration, was quoted by Tabnak as saying that political factions in Iran already know about Khatami's decisions.  Representing the Reformist Party, Khatami was the Iranian president from 1997 to 2005. The Iranian scholar and cleric is an iconic political figure in the country.  It has been widely speculated that Khatami will make a comeback on the Reformist platform and challenge the incumbent president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in the 10th presidential election scheduled for June 12, 2009.  "Khatami will definitely participate in the 10th presidential election," said Marashi, a close ally to the former president.  "Although he is yet to officially and publicly announce his candidacy, the political society in Iran is in on his decision," he added.  Marashi stressed that Khatami's reported hesitations before deciding on the issue was logical considering the office he will run for.
"I have to give serious consideration before I decide whether to run in the election. Personally, I have neither the desire nor enthusiasm to return to power," Khatami said late October.
While claiming that he would need assurance of his executive powers before running for the presidency, Khatami had repeatedly said that he would decide to do whatever serves the best interests of the country.  Mehdi Karroubi, a member of Iran's National Confidence Party, has already announced his candidacy in the country's 2009 presidential election. Hojjatoleslam Hassan Rowhani, a member of Iran's Expert Assembly, is also expected to run for office. MD/AA