Rohani has entered presidential race with Rafsanjani support

Former intelligence minister Ali Younesi said on Friday that Hassan Rohani has entered the presidential competition with a full support from Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and somehow shows that Rafsanjani himself will not be a candidate in the June presidential election.
Rohani, the former secretary of the Supreme National Security Council who led Iran’s nuclear negotiations with the European Union trio of Britain, France, and Germany during President Mohammad Khatami’s administration currently chairs the Expediency Council Strategic Research Center.

“Hassan Rohani has entered the election scene with the support of Hashemi,” Younesi told reporters in Tabriz.

He went on to say that so far Rafsanjani has not clearly stated that he would not run for the presidential post and that’s why one cannot say for sure that he will not finally be a candidate.

If Rafsanjani or Khatami decides to contest the election, Rohani will withdraw his presidential bid because “he will not compete with these two persons,” the former intelligence chief said.

Now Rafsanjani and Khatami enjoy great support among people especially the youth and Rohani has entered the election race to “continue the path of these two persons”.

To set the stage for his presidential campaign Rohani announced on Tuesday that he will soon publish an “economic blueprint”.

He said that creating “sustainable employment” is at the top of his agenda.

Rohani also said he would not submit to world powers but will “interact” with them if elected president in the elections.