Ghalibaf, Jalili deny rumors that they will withdraw from race
4 Min Read
Iranian presidential candidates Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Saeed Jalili deny rumors of their withdrawal from the presidential election competition, and former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announces his support for presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and calls for his election.
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Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the most prominent candidate for the June 28, presidential election, leaves a campaign meeting in Tehran, Iran, on June 15, 2024. (AP)
Presidential candidate Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf denied reports that he was withdrawing from the electoral competition, dismissing them as "rumors raised by a few."
While traveling between his electoral stations in various provinces yesterday, Ghalibaf emphasized that he would fulfill the promise he made to the Iranian people and remain in the electoral race until the end. He stated that if he had wanted to withdraw, he would have stayed in parliament. He added, "The current circumstances necessitate the implementation of the seventh five-year plan to achieve economic growth and relieve pressure on the people."
Ghalibaf had visited Ahvaz and Tabriz as part of his tours of the provinces. Amid a crowd in Tabriz, he stated that elections are "the only way through which people, thanks to the revolution, can participate in determining their fate. It is also the fastest and best path to change and reforms."
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He pointed out that some want "to take the country down the wrong path, which kept the country in a state of uncertainty and did not allow it to grow."
In this context, Mojtaba Arab, a member of candidate Saeed Jalili’s campaign, said in an interview with Al Mayadeen that so far Jalili has no intention of withdrawing from the presidential race, stressing that what is being circulated in this regard are rumors.
Rouhani and Zarif call for the election of Pezeshkian
Meanwhile, former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced his support for presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian.
In a video message, Rouhani said, "We will give our votes to whomever has enough courage to achieve the country’s interests without fear of the wrath of this or that side. We will give our votes to whomever will be faithful to his promises and to the interests of the people and the nation, to whomever faces inflation and strives with everything he can for Iran’s prosperity and growth."
He added, "The one who possesses these qualities among the candidates is Masoud Pezeshkian."
Rouhani emphasized that Pezeshkian "deserves our votes," urging everyone who seeks moderation in the country to vote for him.
Additionally, former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called for widespread participation in the elections on Friday and urged voters to support Pezeshkian.
At an election rally in Zanjan, Zarif stated that the next government "will meet the people’s demands and rights with popular support and will not allow sanctions to continue." Zarif added that Iran "does not need paid candidates and political intermediaries who enter and leave the electoral field every time and obtain positions."
A tour for candidates in the governorates
Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Mashhad, where he visited the shrine of Imam Reza and the shrine of martyr President Ebrahim Raisi.
Pezeshkian stated, “Iran belongs to all Iranians, and does not belong to one faction,” emphasizing that “everyone must reach their place based on merit, and everyone must contribute to building this country.”
Before this, Pezeshkian visited Kerman, where he pledged to build a proud Iran. He emphasized that “what must be sought in life is to demand fairness, justice, and the rights of people in this society.”
Candidate Saeed Jalili's first electoral stop was in Shiraz, where he met a large crowd of citizens at the shrine of Sayyid Ahmed bin Musa Al-Kadhim. During his visit, Jalili stressed that Iran today stands "on the brink of a significant decision," highlighting that "the Iranian people have astonished the world with their remarkable choices."
Additionally, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi clarified on the sidelines of the weekly government meeting that there are approximately 60,000 polling centers within the country and 300 centers outside Iran. He mentioned that there is still no agreement with Saudi Arabia to permit pilgrims to vote on its territory, and also noted that Canada has declined to facilitate the voting process for Iranian residents on its soil.
