Speaking at the University of Tehran on Thursday, Aref said the presence of eight candidates will split the vote and confuse voters.
“We would be pleased if two or three candidates competed against each other instead of eight,” he added.
Topping his agenda if he wins the presidential race, Aref said, would be to fix the economy, promote public welfare, increase the national per capita income, and curb high prices as well as inflation and unemployment.
The former vice-president also dismissed speculations that he may step aside in favor of other reformists.
Earlier this week, Iran’s Interior Ministry published a list of eight candidates approved by the Guardian Council to run in the country’s 11th presidential election slated for June 14.
In addition to Aref, Iranian lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, Secretary of the Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, President of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi and former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati comprise the approved candidates.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election.