Hassan Rohani, the head of strategic research for Iran’s Expediency Council, announced on Thursday April 11 that he plans to run for president in the June election.
Iranian media report that while speaking to a group of supporters, Rohani said that his government will be one of “prudence and hope” and that he will also focus on preparing a “Bill of Citizen Rights.”
He also announced that Mohammad Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former Iranian presidents and top reformist figures, will not run in the coming elections.
Rohani also took a critical stance against the Ahmadinejad administration, blaming it for growing “social, economic and cultural problems” in the country.
He accused the Ahmadinejad administration of downplaying the effects of the sanctions instead of trying to reduce their impact.
He listed the high inflation rate, the devaluation of the national currency, the high unemployment rate and the lack of economic growth as the current administration’s policy failures.
Rohani also claimed concern about “the lack of public confidence and satisfaction” in the workings of government” and promised to overcome it.
Hassan Rohani is a political figure close to Hashemi Rafsanjani. He presents himself as a “moderate” and says he enjoys the support of moderate figures among conservatives and reformists.
Rohani was Iran’s former nuclear negotiator in talks with the G5+1 before Ahmadinejad came to power.
