Aref said he has worked as an executive for three decades, and that he will make efforts to improve Iran`s status in the world by promoting democracy.
The former vice-president added that the four million Iranians living abroad are the cultural ambassadors of Iran, and could help the country improve relations with other states.
Late on Tuesday night, Iran`s Interior Ministry issued the list of hopefuls approved by the Guardian Council to run in the country`s 11th presidential election, which will be held on June 14.
Together with Aref, the Guardian Council approved MP Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, Hassan Rohani, the director of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi, and former Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Velayati. The eight candidates were approved after a 10-day vetting process.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election, and the Guardian Council vets the candidates.
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