-- Head of the Iranian Expert Assembly's Center for Strategic Research, Hojjatoleslam Hassan Rowhani, is expected to run for president.

""Apparently, Mr. Rohani is going to register as a candidate in the next presidential election. This is a positive step,"" Mehdi Karrubi, the secretary general of the National Confidence Party, told Fars News Agency.
He added that Rowhani's candidacy would lead to large-scale participation in the elections.
When asked whether he would drop out of the presidential elections in favor of former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami, Karrubi responded that if he so chooses to run for president he would 'not drop out in favor of any candidate'.
""I have not yet decided to run for president,"" Karrubi continued.
This comes after the National Confidence Party officially nominated Karrubi as its candidate for Iran's upcoming presidential race.
Rowhani, who is a representative of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution in the Supreme National Security Council, criticized the government of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday, saying the president had failed to 'make use of golden opportunities'.
""Over the past three years, oil prices have skyrocketed to unimaginable levels,"" he said.
The cleric explained that President Ahmadinejad had promised to achieve various objectives even if oil prices were to stay fixed at USD 25 per barrel.
Masoud Zaribafan, an advisor to Ahmadinejad, responded Wednesday that such remarks are only intended to promote election objectives.
The Council of Guardians has set June 12, 2009 as the date for Iran's tenth presidential election. (Source: Press TV)