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Hashemi Rafsanjani announces decision to run for Iranian presidency

Hashemi Rafsanjani was president of Iran in 1989-1997

TEHRAN, May 11 (Itar-Tass) - Iran’s former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has announced his decision to run for the post of chief executive once again.

“I have come to serve the people of Iran and the people have the right either to elect or not to elect me,” the IRNA news agency quoted Hashemi Rafsanjani as saying on Saturday, May 11.

Hashemi Rafsanjani was president of Iran in 1989-1997. Now he is the head of the Expediency Council, an advisory body under the supreme leader of Iran.

Earlier in the day, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, who is the country’s chief nuclear programme negotiator, confirmed his intention to run for presidency and filed an appropriate application.

However Jalili made no comments regarding his political preferences.

The registration of presidential candidates which started on May 7 ends on May 11. According to the Interior Ministry, there are some 400 nominees wishing to compete in the upcoming election.

Now the Guardian Council has five days to evaluate the candidates for compliance with the constitutional requirements. This period may be extended for five more days, if need be. After that, the Council will announce the names of the candidates cleared for further participation in the election slated for June 14.

At the previous election four years ago, 475 candidates had been registered but the Guardian Council approved only four of them.