Rohani, a mid-ranking cleric, made the remark on Thursday in his address to a gathering of women in Tehran.
He also reiterated that former presidents Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatami will not run in the upcoming presidential race.
“I talked to both these gentlemen and they said they would not run,” said Rohani, closely allied to both Khatami and Rafsanjani.
Rohani is president of the Center for Strategic Research (CSR) of the Expediency Council, which is headed by Rafsanjani.
On Sunday, Rafsanjani, who is currently the chairman of the Expediency Council, said he would take measures to reform the Islamic Republic’s domestic and foreign policies if elected.
Rafsanjani served as Iran’s president from 1989 to 1997. In 2005, he ran for a third term in office, but ultimately lost the race to his rival, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Rohani has pledged to boost domestic production and form a cabinet with young members should he win the election.
A number of political figures have expressed interest in competing in the Islamic Republic’s upcoming presidential election.
Hopefuls can register from May 7 to 11 for the Islamic Republic’s 11th presidential poll, which will be held on June 14.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election, and the Guardian Council vets the candidates for their qualifications.
