Mehdi Karroubi announced on Sunday that he will run in next year's presidential race, becoming the first Iranian politician to declare his candidacy to succeed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"After many consultations I have conducted, and knowing the difficulties that comes with standing (as candidate), I announce my availability for the candidacy," Karroubi — the leader of Iran's reformist National Confidence party — told a news conference.

He said he considers Ahmadinejad as his "most important rival" although the hardline president has yet to announce he will seek re-election in the vote on 12 June.

Karroubi (71) did not rule out pulling out of the race if another reformist candidate has a better chance of winning the presidency.

Former president Mohammad Khatami, who is known to the West as the champion of reform in Iran, has revealed he is considering running for the post again next year, newspapers reported earlier this month.

Khatami, who served as president between 1997-2005, "should take his decision himself and when he enters the race and start his campaign then we will look at the situation," Karroubi said.

Mounting criticism

Ahmadinejad has faced mounting criticism from conservatives and reformists alike mainly over his management of economy as the country struggles with soaring inflation which topped 29 percent at the end of September.

Opponents have also lashed out at Ahmadinejad over his confrontational foreign policy and handling of Iran's nuclear standoff as well as his vitriolic verbal attacks on Israel, which have drawn international condemnation.

Iran's refusal to halt sensitive nuclear activities has sparked three sets of UN Security Council sanctions as well as US and European sanctions.

"I believe Mr Ahmadinejad has failed in foreign policy and in economic problems," Karroubi said, also hitting out at the firebrand president for dismissing the holocaust as a "myth".

"The president has talked about this event, it has cost the country enormously and I don't understand what we have gained," he said.

The mid-ranking cleric, who was parliamentary speaker between 2000-2004 and again in 1990-1992, said improving the economy and internal issues such as defending "people's legitimate liberties" and freedom of the press precede foreign policy on his agenda.

Economic issues

"Our priority is economic issues, work, production and economic growth," Iran's labour news agency ILNA quoted him as saying.

"We should seek to have good relations with all countries except for Israel or at least not have any animosity," he said. "We should try not to create enemies and inflict costs on the country by ill-considered comments."

For Karroubi, the presidential election would be a case of unfinished business. He stood for the 2005 presidential elections but lost in the first round.

The cleric, who raised eyebrows with an extraordinary promise to give cheques worth 55 dollars to every Iranian if he won, bitterly complained about irregularities ruining what he said were strong chances of winning.

Following the 2005 polls, the seasoned politician went on to found his own party, Etemad-e Melli (National Confidence), which he stubbornly refused to integrate into Khatami's main reformist coalition in the 2008 parliamentary elections, despite calls for unity.

Karroubi was a confidante of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini who appointed him head of the foundation for Iranian hajj pilgrims in the 1980s — a background that makes him more palatable to conservatives than other reformists.

AFP