Iranian Reformists to throw weight behind Rafsanjani

TEHRAN,May 13(MNA) – The consultative council of the pro-reform camp issued a statement after its meeting on Saturday saying that reformist figures and groups were ready to fully support Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s campaign for June 14 presidential election. Iran’s presidential race entered a new phase when Rafsanjani and several other heavyweight candidates, including Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, registered for the presidential election in the closing hours of the process on Saturday. The council also called on pro-reform groups to marshal their forces to support Rafsanjani’s candidacy and organize their activities in coordination with his election campaign office. Former president Mohammad Khatami attended the meeting, which was held to discuss the latest election developments. Reformist front will most probably endorse Rafsanjani Majid Bahmanzadeh, the secretary of the reformist front, told the Mehr News Agency on Saturday that the front would hold a meeting on Tuesday to make a decision as to whether to endorse Rafsanjani. In view of the fact that Khatami and a number of members of the reformist front have backed Rafsanjani’s candidacy, it is more than likely that the front will decide to officially endorse him, he said. Mohammad Javad Haqshenas, a member of the reformist front, also told the Mehr News Agency on the same day that he believed that former MP Mostafa Kavakebian, who has been mentioned as a pro-reform candidate, would withdraw in favor of Rafsanjani.