Reformist candidate Mohammadreza Aref, who served as first vice president under Khatami, has said that he will quit if the ex-president announces candidacy for the June vote.
But principlist candidate Mohsen Rezaei made it clear on Saturday that he would not withdraw in favor of any specific party.
The secretary of the Expediency Council said he would not quit his campaign even if two-time presidents Rafsanjani and Khatami join the race.
Rezaei made the remarks in response to an invitation for coalition from former Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, another presidential candidate from the Followers of Imam and Leadership Front.
The largest principlist coalition is expected to unveil its pick for the June 14 presidential election in early May.
According to Mottaki, the Front members have agreed that the nominee should be chosen based on opinion polls, following which the rest would withdraw from the race in favor of the final pick.
He says the next administration must focus on Iran’s economic problems, which he believes, have worsened in recent years.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election and the Guardian Council vets the candidates for qualifications.
