Iran: Hardliner Ahmadinejad to run for presidency again

Iran's former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unexpectedly filed to run in the country's May presidential election, contradicting a recommendation from the supreme leader to stay out of the race.

Tehran, April 12: Iran's former hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday got his name registered for the upcoming Iranian presidential election.

While registering his name in Iran's Interior Ministry, Ahmadinejad, expressed hope for victory.

He vowed to serve the Iranians, and try hard for the establishment of "justice and freedom" if he was re-elected as President.

Ahmadinejad was accompanied by his confidant former controversial deputies Hamid Baqaee and Rahim Mashae. Baqaee also registered his name for the Presidency.

In September 2016, local media quoted Iran's Supreme Leader as saying that "I do not find it advisable that you (Ahmadinejad) participate" in the next presidential elections.

Ahmadinejad, was a two-term President for eight years, before President Hassan Rouhani took office in the 2013 election.

On Tuesday, Iran's Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli announced registration of candidates for Iran's 12th presidential race in capital Tehran.

The registration will last for five days and all the hopefuls will undergo the subsequent vetting process by the country's high legislative body, namely the Guardian Council of the Constitution.

The Guardian Council will assess the qualification of the applicants and announce the names of the qualified candidates by April 27.

According to the schedule released by Iran's Interior Ministry, the campaign for the presidential race will kick off on April 28 and will continue till the end of May 17.

The hopefuls will have 20 days for electoral campaign, ahead of the election day slated for May 19.

IANS