Rostam Qassemi becomes second prominent candidate to withdraw, endorse Raeisi
Former Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi has become the second prominent presidential hopeful to drop out of the June 18 election and endorse the Principlist camp’s best presumptive bet Ebrahim Raeisi.
In a letter addressed to the secretary of the Constitutional Council on Monday (May 24), Qassemi said he was heeding the advice of individuals who cared about the Iranian establishment and was withdrawing to “enforce the Revolution front.”
“I see my work is done,” he wrote in the terse letter, which was addressed to Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati.
Shortly afterwards, Fars news agency published a report of an “unofficial” list of the candidates approved by the Constitutional Council. Qassemi’s name did not appear on that list.
Qassemi formerly served as commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). Another former head of the Headquarters, Sa’eed Mohammad, has also registered to run in the presidential election.
While registering his presidential bid, Qassemi professed no party affiliation and said he would run as “a candidate for all.” He is, however, generally seen as a Principlist figure.
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