[caption id="attachment_30403" align="alignright" width="210"] Presidential candidate Mohammad Gharazi answers questions at a press conference in Tehran on May 27, 2013.[/caption]
Iranian Reformist candidate Mohammad Gharazi says if he wins the upcoming presidential race, he will establish all-out relations with countries that do not seek to undermine the nation’s national interests.
Gharazi told a press conference in Tehran that the next administration should not change Iran’s policy towards the US because of Washington’s bullying policies against the nation.
The former telecommunications minister further said that the country should get rid of inflation, adding the next administration needs to spend within the limits of its annual budget if it wants to avoid price hikes.
Also in comments made Friday, Gharazi said the underdevelopment of provincial cities and towns is the main reason for the population explosion and the social maladies in the capital.
The only way out of the current deadlock is to decentralize the government and allow provinces to be in charge of their own affairs, said Gharazi in his Friday’s comments, adding he will create new jobs in provinces by boosting production and non-oil exports if he is elected president.
In the upcoming presidential poll, Gharazi will be competing against Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, President of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of the Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, and former First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref.
On June 14, Iranians will cast their ballots at over 66,000 polling stations across the country to choose their 11th president. Expatriates will also be able to vote at 285 polling stations that will be set up in their respective countries.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election after the Guardian Council vets the candidates.
By Press TV
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