TEHRAN -- Ex-Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref on Thursday said reformists should back down from their ‘initial positions’ to arrive at a consensus over a single candidate for the upcoming presidential election.

“The reformists have no alternative but unity,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the fifteenth congress of the Islamic Revolution Mojahedin Organization (IRMO).
Aref acted as first vice president under Mohammad Khatami.
Khatami, who also attended the congress, in talks with reporters again refused to confirm his candidacy.
“We should all try to convince him (Khatami) to run for the elections,” Aref said.
He also went on to say that although different reformist parties have announced separate candidates they should prefer ‘national interests’ over political gains and try to achieve unity.
Asked about planned changes to presidential election law, he said any reform which improves candidacy requirements is ‘acceptable’.
Aref refused to give a definitive answer on whether he himself will run for the elections