Upcoming presidential poll to determine Iranian nation’s fate: Rohani

Presidential candidate Hassan Rohani says the June 14 election will determine the nation’s fate for the next four years, and the Iranian people are duty-bound to vote en masse.

Addressing a gathering of his supporters in the northwestern city of Orumiyeh on Monday, Rohani said reforms and friendship will replace extremist views in the next administration if he emerges as the winner in the upcoming election.

He pledged to restore the value of the national currency and eradicate unemployment and inflation.

The former chief nuclear negotiator also promised to pay special attention to the development of rural areas.

Rohani is facing five rivals including former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, Secretary of the Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi.

Two presidential candidates, former Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel and former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref withdrew their candidacy bids respectively on Monday and early Tuesday.

The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election. Nearly 50.5 million Iranians are eligible to vote in the upcoming presidential poll.