Iran's reformist ex-president Khatami endorses Rouhani

Iran's reformist ex-president Mohammad Khatami on Sunday endorsed President Hassan Rouhani in a video message, calling on voters to give him another term in this week's election.

"Mr Rouhani's government has been a successful one, despite all the limitations, problems and the great expectations," he said in the video posted on social media.

"We should all go and vote for Rouhani, for freedom in thought, logic in dialogue, law in action, securing the rights of citizens and enforcing social and economic justice."

Khatami praised the government for taming rampant inflation of above 40 percent in 2013 to below 9.5 percent and the "steps" taken against stagnation.

Unemployment has increased in the past four years to 12.5 percent from 10.5 percent, while youth joblessness stands at 27 percent.

"Many issues have been resolved but bigger issues remain, which we must all help to solve," he said in the video published on his Telegram messenger account.

Khatami, the de facto leader of the reformist camp, has been under a media ban during the past few years for supporting the Green Movement protesters in the 2009 presidential election that saw hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected. 

In 2016, he released a video that played a crucial role in helping pro-Rouhani candidates to defeat ultra-conservatives in parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections.

The video became well-known for his use of the phrase "I repeat".

"This time, it is you who should repeat. Repeat the vote for dear Rouhani, to boost hope for future," he said on Sunday, referring to Friday's presidential election.

In 2013, Khatami helped Rouhani to take office by convincing reformist Mohammad Reza Aref to step aside in Rouhani's favour. 

It is yet to be seen if Khatami does the same in this election to the reformist First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, who is running alongside Rouhani.

Khatami also warned people against being deceived by "baseless promises" from Rouhani's conservative rivals, who have vowed to increase cash handouts and create millions of jobs in four years.

Rouhani, who swept into office in a landslide four years ago on promises to reduce Iran's international isolation, is seeking a second term after negotiating an agreement with world powers to curb Iran's nuclear programme in return for lifting sanctions.

"If we want a better economy, we should not let groups with security and political backing to get involved in the economy," Rouhani said during the debate, in an unmistakable swipe at the Revolutionary Guards Corps, an elite military force with a vast business empire, which has backed his main hardline opponent Ebrahim Raisi.

Rouhani cast his clerical opponents as power-hungry pawns of Iran's security forces, going far beyond the traditional bounds of Iranian political discourse

"Mr Raisi, you can slander me as much you wish. As a judge of the clerical court, you can even issue an arrest order. But please don't abuse religion for power," Rouhani said at one point.

"Some security and revolutionary groups are busing people to your campaign rallies ... Who finances them?" he said at another point.

He cast his other main rival, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former Guards commander and police chief, as a thug who had boasted of personally taking on young demonstrators.

"You wanted to beat up students," Rouhani said.

Normally measured in his public speeches, Rouhani has become increasingly forceful in recent days, giving voice to the grievances of reformers who say they have been oppressed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution by security forces like the guards.

"I am surprised. Those of you who talk about freedom of speech these days ... [you are] those who cut out tongues and sewed mouths shut," Rouhani told a rally on Monday in a thinly veiled attack on Raisi, a former jurist involved in mass executions of political prisoners in the 1980s.

"Our people want political and social freedom ... In the election they will not vote for those who knew only executions and prison for 38 years," Rouhani said in a rally on Tuesday.

He faces five challengers led by Raisi and Ghalibaf, who both say Rouhani has sold Iran's interests too cheaply to the West and allowed the economy to decay through mismanagement.

The first round is on 19 May, with a run-off a week later if no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote.