Iran's Principlist Perseverance Front has picked chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili as its favorite candidate for the June 14 presidential election.
In a statement on Monday, the party voiced its all-out support for Jalili, who is serving as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
The fronts first choice was former Health Minister Kamran Baqeri-Lankarani who dropped out in favor of Jalili before the top supervisory body Guardian Council shortlisted approved candidates for the presidency.
Jalili is facing seven rivals in the upcoming election including former Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Velayati, lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, President of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, former First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election, and the Guardian Council vets the candidates.