Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 23 /Trend S.Isayev, T. Jafarov/
If reformists to abandon the upcoming presidential elections in Iran, it will eventually lead to their own destruction, secretary-general of Iranian Islamic Coalition party (Islamic Motalefeh party), conservative politician Hassan Ghafourifard told Trend in an interview.
Previously some organizations including the Coordinating Council of the Reformers said they will not submit a list of candidates and not nominate anyone for the next parliamentary elections, despite that Iranian media reported of 15-20 reformists currently residing in the parliament.
Presently, reformist political groups in Iran said that in January of 2013, a special assembly would be established for the parties to bring their positions closer before the 2013 elections.
Spokesman for Coordination Front's reform council, Najafqulu Habibi said that this assembly would hold meetings on 16-17 January in Tehran.
The Coordination Front's reform council will create the opportunity to allow groups and reformist parties of Iran to meet and find joint solutions regarding the upcoming presidential elections.
Regarding the upcoming presidential elections in Iran that are scheduled to be held in June 2013, Hassan Ghafourifard believes the reformists will participate, and present their candidates.
"I definitely believe that reformists will participate in the elections, however it is yet unclear if they plan to promote it, or do it quietly. The candidates have already been introduced," Ghafourifard said.
"Iran is a free country, which means any group can participate at the elections if they accept the Supreme Leader, and if the conditions in the constitution are acceptable for them," he said, adding that the conservatives supports reformists' participation at the elections.
The Secretary-general also said that the largest political parties of Iran already expressed their will to participate at the upcoming elections, and there will also be other different groups taking part in the election process.
"I know that conservatives are unlikely to come to a single candidate. As of now there are some 20 people who can become candidates," he said. "There will probably be 3-4 representatives from both conservatives and reformists. This number may be higher, if approved by the Guardian Council."
A week ago, Iran's political reformist groups met country's former president Mohammad Khatami, and expressed their will to have Khatami as a candidate at the upcoming elections.
Khatami himself said that he still waits for the positive changes in the country, and will reveal his decision when the time is right.
Khatami was president from 1997 to 2005, for two consecutive terms.
Representatives of reformist parties noted that if Khatami is not to present himself as a candidate at the upcoming elections, they will be participating as one candidate.
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