Mohammad Khatami, the former president of Iran, has publicly endorsed Masoud Pezeshkian, the reformist candidate in the upcoming presidential elections.
Khatami made his announcement through a video message released on Tuesday.
In his address, Khatami acknowledged that Iranian society is currently "in crisis" and needs structural reforms.
However, he maintained his stance against radical change, saying that "change and transformation by subversion - which is neither possible nor desirable - will not be achieved."
The former president, who abstained from voting in the March parliamentary election, expressed that Pezeshkian's approval as a candidate has opened a "hole" through which the voice of the majority might be heard.
Khatami sees this as an opportunity to potentially make a small difference in the current political landscape.
Khatami criticized the Guardian Council's disqualification process, lamenting that "many worthy candidates were unjustly prevented from running."
Despite this, he praised Pezeshkian as a candidate who "treats the people by avoiding deceiving them" and goes beyond economics in "seeking justice."
The endorsement comes as a significant boost for Pezeshkian's campaign.
Khatami emphasized the importance of having at least one reformist candidate in the field, suggesting that Pezeshkian could represent "important parts of the society that suffer from poverty, corruption, insecurity, and humiliation."
Khatami left the final decision to the "awakened conscience of the people," expressing hope that society, though dissatisfied with the current situation, will make a choice that benefits the country and provides a foundation for gradual improvement.
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