Presidential hopefuls of Iran

Starting today, the campaign moves into the main stage as candidates launch their publicity campaigns. Among the registered potential candidates for the presidency are Saeed Jalili, Ghulam Ali Haddad Adil, Mohsen Rezai, Hassan Rouhani, Mohammad Reza Arif, Mohammad Garazi, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Ali Akbar Velayati.

Among those whose credentials have not been confirmed yet are Iran's former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as well as advisor and father-in-law of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's son Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei. Apart from them, nominations for Manouchehr Mottaki, Alirza Zakani, Akbar Alami, Mustafa Kavakibian and several other politicians have not been confirmed yet.

The first to express their attitude towards the final presidential candidates was America. The U.S. Secretary of State demanded that the Supervisory Council of Iran to gives all citizens the right to freely participate in the presidential elections. The U.S. State Department spokesman said the majority of those, whose powers have been confirmed, are representatives of the Iranian government and do not represent the people.

The simultaneous withdrawal of Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mashaei caused an increase in interest in the election atmosphere, and thus, the fact that their nominations not receiving confirmation was unexpected by many experts.

Most of the famous people, who nominated their candidatures, held various positions either in the previous governments or in the current ones. Some of them are university teachers and renowned experts.

Conservative camp:

Saeed Jalili - candidate capable of uniting the conservatives

The secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and representative of the Iranian Supreme religious leader at the Council Saeed Jalili is a conservative and a vetran of the Iran-Iraq war. Although his nomination has always been relevant, he did not state that he will put forward his candidacy up to the date of registration. Despite the fact that the Front for Islamic Revolution Stability would like to present Jalili as its candidate, he decided to run as an independent. According to public opinion, he is a main favorite. Although many say that he has little experience in the field of management, Jalili is known as a person with a strong political will, capable of making serious decisions. Up to this day, some candidates from the conservative camp, who have been registered, withdrew their candidatures in favor of Jalili. It is difficult to predict the results of the presidential elections in Iran. There can be always surprises. But if it continues and the camp of conservatives spares no effort to support him, Jalili will be one of the major presidential candidates.

Ali Akbar Velayati, one of the major presidential candidates

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, International Affairs Advisor to the Supreme Leader, Ali Akbar Velayati is a member of one of the main coalition of conservatives, which has not disintegrated yet - the "2 +1" coalition (the tripartite coalition, founded by Velayati, Ghalibaf and Haddad Adil). The members of the coalition had previously stated that the overall goal of the union at the initial stage is to go to the polls and make extensive use of promotional opportunities. Despite following the nomination of Hashemi Rafsanjani and Rahim Mashaei, Ghalibaf said "a coalition is out of the question and that everyone should stand for themself," they said they would withdraw their candidacy in favor of the final candidate (from the coalition or other candidate from the camp). Although members of the "2 +1" coalition are close to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, it is likely that the Conservatives will gather around Saeed Jalili and withdraw their candidacy in his favor. Earlier, as Saeed Jalili's candidacy has gained topicality, Velayati pointed to the possibility of his support in one of his speeches.

The reformers' camp:

Hassan Rohani - the main rival of conservatives

Despite chairman of the Strategic Studies Center of the Consultative Council and former Secretary General of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council Hassan Rohani introduced himself as an independent candidate, he also considers himself as a reformer. The leader of the reformers' camp and ex-President Mohammad Khatami, as well as chairman of the Iranian Expediency Council Hashemi Rafsanjani, support the candidacy of Rohani. In the current conditions of Hashemi Rafsanjani's disqualification, unanimously supported by the reformers, Rohani is the leading candidate from the camp. "According to the discussions that I had with Rafsanjani, one of us - me or Rafsanjani will finally remain on the voting day," Rohani earlier said in one of his statements. "If the events continue this way and there will be no new "surprises" (powers of Hashemi and Mashai are likely to be approved following the spiritual leader's interference), Rohani is the main candidate from the camp, who can compete with the conservative camp.

Mohammed Rza Arif - reformers' candidate

Mohammed Rza Arif, who was vice-president of Iranian ex-President Mohammad Khatami, is a member of the Iranian Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, as well as a member of the Consultative Council. According to the poll of a number of Iranian media, Arif is a successful candidate from the reformers' camp.

It is assumed that Arif will withdraw his candidacy in favor of Hassan Rohani due to reformers-leaders Mohammad Khatami's and Hashemi Rafsanjani's support for Rohani's candidacy on one side and the likelihood of rivalry with a single candidate from conservatives' camp.

Mohammad Garazi - "weak but ambitious candidate"

During the presidency of Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Mohammad Garazi was Minister of Communication, but Minister of Oil when Mir Hossein Mousavi was Prime Minister. He has not participated in the political processes for a long time. He unexpectedly announced his candidacy, and it was approved. "I ??have no money, campaign staff, press secretary, but I have a program to solve the problems of inflation in the country," Garazi said during the press-conference today. As far as the voting day is approaching, there is a possibility that Garazi will withdraw his candidacy in favor of other reformer-candidate.


Tamkin Jafarov   /Trend/