During a Clubhouse social media event organised by cabinet minister and potential candidate Mohammad-Javad Azari-Jahromi, Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif again denied that he will run for president. When asked about his position on running for presidency, Zarif responded: “my latest position is no different from my first – I am not a candidate”.
Ebrahim Raisi, seen as one of the most popular potential candidate and a favourite for the Principalist faction, has once again ruled out running for President. When asked if he would register, he stated that “I don’t think of anything other than the Judiciary”, in reference to his current position. As with another favourite Mohammad-Javad Zarif, Raisi has repeatedly denied he intends to run, but is still likely to change his mind.
Hossein Marashi, the head of the Reformist Executives of Construction Party, told IRNA that Ali Larijani would not be a suitable candidate for the Reformists as “we do not have a right wing”. Marashi was speaking in the context of speculation that the Reformists would back a popular non-Reformist candidate like Larijani or Mohammad-Javad Zarif. Marashi added that the Reformists will wait until the Guardian Council announces the approved candidates before backing a candidate.
Reports are circulating that the Reformist movement is placing their hope in the candidacy of Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif, as they do not believe any of their own candidates will be approved to run by the Guardian Council. Zarif has stated on several occasions that he will not participate in this election, although there is much speculation that he will change his mind.