28 May, 2017
In 2016, he released a video that played a crucial role in helping pro-Rouhani candidates to defeat ultra-conservatives in parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections. "In Tehran, his votes will go mainly to Rouhani but outside Tehran his supporters will vote for Raisi", said political analyst Hamid Farahvashian.
Khamenei, Iran's final arbiter on all matters of state, intervened last week as the campaigns became more confrontational, calling on candidates to avoid "immoral" outbursts that could damage the nation.
It is reasonable to assume that this deal would not have been completed (and might not have been attempted) under a more hard-line Iranian president. Some have speculated that Qalibaf could serve as a vice president in Raisi's administration in exchange for his support.
A former police chief and member of the Revolutionary Guards, he has played on his tough-guy image in the past, but this year targeted his campaign against the wealthy elite, who he dubbed the "four-per-centers". "A man who should be on trial for the most heinous crime in contemporary Iranian history, is instead seeking the presidency", said Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI).
Having now called on conservative voters to unite behind Raisi, Qalibaf could conceivably upset forecasts that Rouhani was on course for a comfortable victory.
Speaking Saturday to tens of thousands of his supporters at Tehran's Azadi Stadium, his biggest campaign rally thus far, Rouhani said, "We are at the edge of a great historical decision".
The election is seen largely as a referendum on Rouhani's outreach to the rest of the world following the country's landmark 2015 nuclear accord with world powers.
It is likely others will drop out to solidify support for other candidates, especially as one of them is serving as vice president in Rouhani's government. Under the Iranian system, candidates need an absolute majority of votes to win. Rouhani's (or, rather the Pragmatists') challenge is that the détente pursued with the West, i.e. conceding on nuclear development in return for partial sanctions relief, has not delivered as much economic benefit as hoped for.
They were not happy that the maverick Tehran mayor was standing again and thereby raising the risk of splitting the anti-Rouhani vote.
