Rafsanjani won't challenge election result

TEHRAN, July 5 (UPI) -- Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani will not challenge the result of the presidential election which he lost to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Rafsanjani was quoted by the Iranian News Agency, IRNA, as saying a challenge is not in Iran's best interests.

"If we are not careful, the enemies will exploit any weakness in order to challenge the Islamic regime and the Iranian people," he said.

Rafsanjani said after his defeat he will "complain to God," accusing the authorities of having given Ahmadinejad an unfair advantage.

He warned that divisions and conflict among Iranians will only serve the enemy, in an allusion to the United States.