Rafsanjani, 78, who is currently chairman of the Expediency Council, noted that he is constitutionally allow to run. The Constitution bars anyone from serving more than two consecutive terms, but doesn’t bar a former president from running for a third, non-consecutive term.
“So far, there is no legal ban, but I am no longer ready for this job,” Rafsanjani said in an interview published Sunday by the daily Arman.
There has been much speculation that Rafsanjani would run next year—and would do so with the quiet support of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenehi. That speculation began in August when Khamenehi had Rafsanjani at his side while meeting with world leaders attending the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Tehran.
Rafsanjani served as president for two consecutive terms from 1989 to 1997. He ran for president again in 2005 but was defeated by Mahmud Ahmadi-nejad in a run-off.
During the interview, Rafsanjani said that even prior to 2005 he repeatedly insisted that he preferred a “young and energetic person” to take the helm and that he would support such a candidate. But he said things developed in such a way that “I was forced to stand as a candidate.”
Rafsanjani said he implemented his “plans” during his eight-year presidency and there was really no need for him to run in the 2005 election.
Asked to explain why he then decided to run in 2005, he said he had predicted the country would experience what it is now going through.
Arman did not ask him to explain what he meant by that, though there was speculation he was referring to the increased confrontation with the rest of the world and resulting sanctions.
Asked about reports that he recently met with former Majlis Speaker Ali-Akbar Nateq-Nuri and urged him to run in next year’s presidential election, Rafsanjani said, “We always hold meetings. Usually four or five of the friends stay after the Expediency Council sessions, and we have lunch with each other and talk about the country’s issues and their solutions.”
Rafsanjani said in one such meeting he suggested that Nateq-Nuri run next year and Nateq-Nuri countered that Rafsanjani should run. Rafsanjani said he told Nateq-Nuri that he—Nateq-Nuri—was in a better physical condition to serve as president.
“But it was all talk,” Rafsanjani quickly said.
Nateq-Nuri ran for president in 1997 and was beaten by Mohammad Khatami.
Asked whether he talked with Khatami about next year’s elections, Rafsanjani said, “After that event [the unrest that followed the 2009 presidential election], such a situation was created that we do not enter such talks with him.”