By Xinhua,
TEHRAN : Iran’s former reformist president Seyed Mohammad Khatami announced his decision on Sunday to run in the upcoming presidential elections, Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
“Here, I earnestly announce my candidacy in the elections,” said Khatami at a press conference, adding that “I announce that, from the beginning until now, in spite of whatever had been said, I never hesitated (in my decision).”
It was rumored in the past months that Khatami was hesitated to run for the upcoming presidential elections which will be held on June 12, 2009.
Khatami was elected president in 1997 and served in office for two terms until 2005.
Another Iranian cleric, the two-time former parliament speaker Mehdi Karroubi, who is claimed to be in the camp of the reformists, and a presidential candidate in the 2005 presidential elections, already announced bid for presidency.