Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, one of the six candidates vying for Iran’s presidency, has withdrawn from the race.
Hashemi, a former parliamentarian and vice president, announced his decision in a statement on Wednesday. He entered the race to defend the legacy of former president Ebrahim Raeisi, who was martyred in a helicopter crash on May 19, leading to the snap presidential election scheduled for June 28.
In his statement, Hashemi expressed pride in having worked alongside Raeisi and stated that he had “spared no effort” to defend Raeisi’s track record during his campaign.
At a televised political roundtable last Wednesday, Hashemi, who currently heads the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, pledged to champion a robust diplomacy of power and continue Raeisi’s strategic international relations policy.
The remaining candidates in the race are Saeed Jalili, former lead nuclear negotiator; Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iranian Parliament speaker; Mostafa Pourmohammadi, former interior minister; Masoud Pezeshkian, former health minister; and Alireza Zakani, mayor of Tehran.
