TEHRAN, 15 March 2005 — Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who supporters say has the political acumen to resolve Iran’s problems with the West, reiterated yesterday that he was ready to stand in June’s presidential election but stressed that he had not made a formal decision, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported.
“I am totally ready to be a candidate but I think it is still too early to decide,” the still influential former president said.
“I would still prefer for someone with more energy to enter the stage ... Maybe in the course of the next few days the (campaign) platform of one of the existing candidates or a new candidate will appeal (to Iranians), failing which it will be up to me,” he said at the launch of a new student news agency, IscaNews. Rafsanjani had already hinted on Sunday that he intended to attempt a comeback in the June 17 election. “As we are getting closer to the election, I feel my responsibility is getting heavier and I cannot stand aside,” Rafsanjani told a gathering of managing directors and chief editors from the national press.
“If I determine that the management of the country rests on me alone, do not doubt that I will execute my national and Islamic duty,” he was quoted as saying by the student news agency ISNA.
