Chairman of Irans Expediency Council Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (shown) has not been approved to run for president in Irans July 14th election.[/caption]Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was not approved by the Guardian Council to run for the forthcoming presidential poll on June 14, says the country needs unity and calm in order to pass through the current difficult times.
The former Iranian president said on Thursday, [We] must try to create the political epic that the Leader [of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei] has in mind so that it could be a prelude to an economic epic in the country.
Hashemi Rafsanjani served as Irans president from 1989 to 1997. In 2005, he ran for a third term in office, but lost the race to his rival Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The chairman of the Expediency Council added that the countrys problems must be gradually resolved by taking rational decisions.
Earlier this week, Irans Interior Ministry issued the list of eight candidates approved by the Guardian Council to run in the countrys 11th presidential election which is due to be held on June 14.
Iranian lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, Secretary of Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, President of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, former First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi and former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati comprised the approved candidates.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election.
By Press TV
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