Iran presidential candidate Mohammad Reza Aref addresses students at Tehran University on May 23, 2013.[/caption]Iranian reformist presidential candidate Mohammad Reza Aref has dismissed rumors about having met with his reformist rival, Hassan Rohani, in order to forge an alliance.
Speaking to reporters following a speech at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran on Tuesday, Aref stated that he has not met Rohani, who is President of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council, for the purpose of creating a coalition.
The former first vice president went on to say that he recently had a meeting with Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, during which the chairman of the Expediency Council urged him to take his candidacy seriously and stay in the race.
Aref said he has a comprehensive strategy which he will implement if elected president, noting that he does not intend to outline his tactics now.
Aref is facing seven rivals in the upcoming election, including Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, President of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, Secretary of Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election.
Iranians will go to the polls in the nations 11th presidential election on June 14. Over 66,000 polling stations will be set up across the country. Expatriates will also be able to cast ballots at 285 polling stations that will be set up in their respective countries.
By Press TV
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