The majority of Principalists will support Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to win over the Reformists in the upcoming elections, a political activist says.
"There is general consensus among the Principalists on (President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad and they have focused to win over the Reformists," Habibollah Asgar-Oladi, a senior member of the Islamic Coalition Party, a major member of the Principalist camp, said on Wednesday.
The former minister of commerce added that the Principalists have to be closely aligned if they want to win the presidential elections.
On President Ahmadinejad's candidacy, Asgar-Oladi said he would for sure join the race, adding, "if the Principalist camp reaches a consensus on Ahmadinejad other Principalist candidates will step back from their presidential bids in favor of him.”
Asgar-Oladi went on further saying that if after such an agreement a Principalist decides to run as a candidate, he will not be considered a Principalist nominee.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is yet to announce his decision to run again for office. His media advisor Aliakbar Javanfekr, however, told Reuters in late January that the current President 'will become a candidate for the next election'.
No member from the Principalist camp has yet officially announced their candidacy. However, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Mohammad Jahromi and former interior minister under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Mostafa Pour Mohammadi, are Principalist candidates who have hinted their bid for the post.
Former Iranian president Seyyed Mohammad Khatami and former Majlis speaker Mehdi Karroubi are among prominent Reformist members who have officially announced their candidacy.
There is speculation that Khatami's candidacy and Ahmadinejad's possible announcement would heat up the race between Principalists and Reformists creating a polarized competition between the main two political camps in Iran.
Reformists believe Khatami's candidacy will increase their chance of winning the presidential race and defeating Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The participation of Khatami in the elections has also prompted certain Principalists to set aside their differences and throw weight behind Ahmadinejad in order to defeat their main rival, raising the possibility of his introduction as the sole nominee of the party.
Iran will hold presidential elections on June 12.
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