In a second election statement issued on Tuesday, Rafsanjani said that he has always refrained from “defaming rivals” during the course of his political carrier, adding that “slander and libel” are inhumane and against Islamic values.
The former Iranian president also called on people working in his campaign team to avoid extravagance and warned against holding inappropriate and noisy election carnivals.
Rafsanjani served as Iran’s president from 1989 to 1997. In 2005, he ran for a third term in office, but he ultimately lost the race to his rival Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The registration of hopefuls at the Iranian Interior Ministry began on May 7 and ended on May 11.
A total of 686 individuals signed up for Iran’s 11th presidential election, 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 based on their qualifications.
