Rafsanjani weighing situation to run for president

Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani says he is currently assessing the situation before making up his mind to enter the country’s upcoming presidential election.

Rafsanjani told a group of university students in Tehran on Sunday that he needs to consult Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei before making a decision in this regard, adding that he will run for president only upon the Leader’s approval.

I will not enter the race without the Leader’s blessing because if Ayatollah Khamenei does not agree with my candidacy, “the result will be counterproductive,” said Rafsanjani, who currently chairs Iran’s Expediency Council.

Earlier on May 1, Hassan Rohani, who is president of the Expediency Council’s Center for Strategic Research (CSR) and is a presidential hopeful himself, said Rafsanjani would not join the race to succeed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Rafsanjani served as Iran’s president from 1989 to 1997. In 2005, he ran for a third term in office, but he ultimately lost the race to Ahmadinejad.

More than 20 political figures have expressed interest in competing in the Islamic Republic’s upcoming presidential election.

Hopefuls can register on May 7-11 for Iran’s 11th presidential poll, which will be held on June 14.

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