Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

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Former Iranian Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, attends a press conference after registering his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election, at the election headquarters of the interior ministry in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, May 11, 2013. (AP Photo)

Candidate Profile: Ali Akbar Velayati

by Asharq Al-Awsat | Jun 11, 2013 | Features, Profiles

For many years, Ali Akbar Velayati was known as the top man in Iranian diplomacy. He served as Iran’s foreign minister for 16 years, from 1981 until 1997, during the presidencies of Ayatollah Khamenei and Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Notably, he is among those whose...

Media ID: 55304906
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In this photo released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, presidential candidates from right, Mohammad Gharazi, Mohammad Reza Aref, Saeed Jalili, Ali Akbar Velayati, Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, Hasan Rowhani, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, and Mohsen Rezaei, attend a TV debate in a state-run TV studio, in Tehran. (AP Photo/Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Mehdi Dehghan)

Iran: Rouhani aide says coalition imminent

by Ali M. Pedram | Jun 11, 2013 | Middle East

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—A senior figure in the campaign of Iranian presidential candidate Hassan Rouhani told Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday that the announcement of an electoral coalition with another candidate is imminent. Akbar Torkan, Rouhani’s deputy campaign manager,...

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Mayor of Tehran, Iranian Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf speaks during a press conference after registering his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election at the interior ministry in Tehran on May 11, 2013. Source: AFP Photo/Behrouz Mehri

Candidate Profile: Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf

by Asharq Al-Awsat | Jun 10, 2013 | Features, Profiles

At the age of 19, Qalibaf participated in the Iran–Iraq War and was soon appointed commander of a division despite his youth. After the war, he was appointed the deputy commander of the Resistance Force and Basij troops, and began climbing the ranks of the Iranian...

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Iranian presidential candidate and lead nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili waves to supporters during a campaign rally in Tehran on May 24, 2013. (AFP Photo)

Candidate Profile: Saeed Jalili

by Asharq Al-Awsat | Jun 9, 2013 | Features, Profiles

Saeed Jalili was almost completely unknown in Iranian politics until October 20, 2007, when he was appointed as the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, replacing Ali Larijani, after service as a diplomat in Iran’s foreign ministry. Since...

Media ID: 55304300
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Advisor to the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and hopeful conservative presidential candidate, Ali Akbar Velayati (C) waves as he leaves after a campaign rally in Tehran on June 2, 2013 (AFP PHOTO/BEHROUZ MEHRI)

Iranian candidates deny coalition speculation

by Asharq Al-Awsat | Jun 4, 2013 | Middle East

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—As election day in Iran approaches, different candidates from across the political spectrum are pushing back against speculation that they intend to drop out of the race and back other candidates. The spokesman for a coalition of reformists...