Reformist groups and factions have joined forces to pick just one frontrunner for the upcoming presidential race in Iran.

Reports suggest the group has held extensive talks behind closed doors on how best to enter the June 14th vote.

The idea is to ask presidential candidate Mohammad Reza Aref to step aside in favor of Hassan Rohani, in a bid to avoid vote splitting.

They have also agreed to pick Aref as the first vice president if Rohani becomes president.

As a first step, the group plans to hold a meeting to discuss the matter with the two candidates as well as former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Rohani and Aref will be contending against former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of the Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi in Iran's 11th presidential election.
 

News ID 184832