‘Coalition of Three members not to quit’

Iran presidential candidate, Ali Akbar Velayati, says members of the principlist Coalition of Three have reached an agreement to remain in the race for the June 14 election until the end.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday, the former foreign minister said he, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel have agreed to support any one of the three contestants who will garner enough votes to emerge winner.

Velayati further noted that he will help resolve the Syria conflict though regional cooperation if elected president.

He said the crisis in Syria should be resolved only through dialogue rather than military intervention.

Velayati is facing seven rivals in the upcoming election. 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 First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi are also running for president.

The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election.

Iranians will go to the polls in the nation™s 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.

MP/KA/SS