President Hassan Rouhani has not yet formally declared he will stand for re-election but remains the clear front-runner in Iran’s 19 May poll. The Reformist Policymaking Council headed by Mohammed-Reza Aref on 12 March said it would support Rouhani, following a unanimous vote. Other reformist candidates may yet put themselves forward – a sensible strategy in case the Shora-ye Negahban-e Qanun-e Assassi (Guardian Council) decides to block Rouhani from running, as it has intimated it might.
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