Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Photo: AFP
Mohammad Khatami
Photo: Reuters
Iran: Former parliament speaker to run against Ahmadinejad
Mehdi Karroubi, leading member of Iranian reformist movement, is first senior politician to challenge current Iranian president in upcoming elections
Mehdi Karroubi, one of the leaders of Iran's reformist camp, announced Sunday morning that he would be running for president as part of the June 12, 2009 elections in the Islamic Republic.
He said Sunday that "after many deliberations and consultations, I declare my readiness to run for president." He was recently elected by his party as its nominee, but it was not clear if he would actually declare his intention to run.
Karroubi, a former parliament speaker, is the first senior politician to challenge President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is expected to run for another term.
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There are many other possible candidates from the reformist camp. One noted possibility is Hassan Rowhani, the former negotiator with Europe regarding Iran's nuclear weapon's program. Another noted possibility is former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, who is considered to have the best chance against Ahmadinejad.
Khatami's intentions, in regards to the presidential race, are unknown, after presenting last week two conditions in which he would run for office once more. Khatami served as president from 1997 to 2005, and he said that the two conditions required for him to run are "an agreement with the people, and the option of carrying out plans."
Members of the reform movement are interested in promoting more rights and freedoms in Iranian society, and are viewed as more moderate in their foreign policy stance, especially in the matter of Iran's nuclear program. But when it comes to the subject of Israel, The reform and conservative movement are in perfect unison.
Even among the conservative movement there are several noted persons who might declare their intention to run for the office of president. Among them is Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani and Ahmad Jannati, a parliament member who is also one of Ahmadinejad's critics.
The chances that any of these candidates will defeat Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are slim, despite internal criticism in both domestic and economic matters.
Ahmadinejad enjoys the support of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is Iran's supreme leader. Recently, Khamenei expressed his support to Ahmadinejad's defiance of western countries in regards to Iran's nuclear capabilities.
