Iranian Presidential candidate from the wing of Reformers Mohammad Reza Aref on Tuesday night, 11th June, announced his decision to withdraw his candidacy in favor of Hassan Rouhani.
In the statement posted on his website, Aref explained that he went to such a move on the advice of the leader of the Reformers, the former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami.
As of June 11, the Supervisory Council of IRI had not taken any decision on the candidate Hassan Rouhani.
This means that the Reformers in the election will be presented by two candidates - Hassan Rohani and Saeed Mohammad Gharazi.
They will have to struggle against four Conservative candidates.
Women's Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran has announced its support for Hassan Rouhani, said Iranian Web site Aftab News.
This was stated by the daughter of the Spiritual leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Imam Ayatollah Khomeini, Zahra Mostafavi who is the Secretary General of the Women's Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
"Due to the high qualifications of Dr. Hassan Rouhani and his great experience, we call upon all Iranians to vote in the Presidential election of June 14 for Rouhani," - reads an official statement of the Society.
The goals of the Women's Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran are the introduction of "genuine Islamic culture, "protection" of the rights of the oppressed, "struggle against the "imperial culture, racism and Zionism," as well as increasing scientific, intellectual and cultural opportunities and rights for women.
Iran's former President and leader of the Reformers’ wing Khatami, in his turn, also called to vote for Hassan Rouhani.
It was reported today by almost all Iranian media. "I will give my vote to Hassan Rouhani - said Khatami – and I call on all my like-minded people, especially supporters of the Reformers’ wing, to support the candidacy of Rouhani." I am sure that the candidacy of Rouhani is a worthy opportunity to achieve desired goals for the Iranians, who are not indifferent to the fate of their country. “The Voice for Rouhani is a return of normal life to Iran and hope to young people for a better life”, - he added.
Now we can only wait whether the Supervisory Council dares to exclude at such a support Reformer-candidate Hassan Rouhani from the list of candidates.
On the 11th of June news agency Fars News announced that the incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated the following, "I and my government do not support any candidate for President. I have only one vote and I will use it, like all others."
Earlier Ahmadinejad was supporting his close ally and relative Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, who was not allowed by the Guardian Council to participate in the elections.
* * *
As reported the Iranian Mehr news agency, citing the Head of the Department for Foreign Media of the Ministry of Culture of Iran Mohammad Nasir Haqiqat, the Presidential election in Iran on June 14 will be covered by 421 journalists from 39 countries.
According to him, in order to cover the elections, 186 journalists from 86 foreign media from 28 countries have already been issued a visa to enter Iran. 235 journalists from 115 foreign media from 27 countries are representatives of foreign media, which have their offices in Tehran.
Haqiqat stressed that, in case of the second round of the election, at the request of journalists who came, their visas may be extended.
Among the well-known foreign media who will cover the Presidential election in Iran, the Head of the Department named AMI TREND from Azerbaijan, RTL, ARD, ZDS from Germany, ORF from Australia, STS, RAI, TG-2 from Italy, "Russia Today", REN TV , NTV from Russia and others.
In covering the election will participate journalists from Japan, the UK, UAE, France, Turkey, Iraq, Ukraine, USA, Syria, China and other countries.
Citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be able to take part in scheduled for the 14th of June Presidential election in 96 countries, 128 electoral districts and 290 polling stations. This has been announced today by the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Abbas Araghchi at the briefing, stressing that it is on his Department that responsibility for the excellent organization of the voting process is laid.
Araghchi added that the Iranian government has addressed authorities of all countries with a request to facilitate the free process of expressing will of Iranians living in their territory.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman added that to the polling stations abroad have been sent 850 thousand ballots. Measures have been taken to ensure the normal vote in case of a second round of the election.
Earlier it was reported that, in particular, in the United States, citizens of Iran will be able to cast their votes in 20 electoral districts.
