Iranian presidential candidate Alireza Zakani announced his withdrawal from the race on Thursday, becoming the second nominee to do so ahead of the election scheduled for Friday.

Mr Zakani, 58, the incumbent mayor of the Iranian capital Tehran, announced his withdrawal on social media X and asked fellow principlist candidates Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Saeed Jalili to unite to prevent the ascent of a reform-leaning candidate.

Mr Zakani said, “We must consolidate our efforts to address the rightful aspirations of revolutionary factions, thereby preventing the formation of another Rouhani administration.”

The announcement came one day after another principlist candidate Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, 53, pulled out from the race. Hashemi is currently serving as the vice president.

Mr Hashemi said his decision aims to “preserve the unity of the forces of the revolution” and strengthen the principlist front.

Two other presidential candidates are Masoud Pezeshkian and Mostafa Pourmohammadi.

Mr Pezeshkian, 70, was Iran’s health minister from 2001 to 2005, and Pourmohammadi, 64, served as Iran’s interior minister and justice minister.

Iran’s 14th presidential election, initially set for 2025, was rescheduled following Mr Raisi’s unexpected death in a helicopter crash in the country’s mountainous northwestern region on May 19.

(Xinhua/NAN)