TEHRAN, April 15 (UPI) -- The Iranian Solidarity Party with the Reformist slate threw its support Wednesday behind Mir-Hossein Mousavi for the presidency in the June contest.
Iran's Press TV reported that Solidarity Party leaders told the official Islamic Republic News Agency the party had reached its decision that the former Iranian prime minister would best represent the Reformist ticket for the June elections.
"Members of Iran's (Solidarity Party) have reached the conclusion that Mousavi is the appropriate candidate for the party," Secretary-General Ali Asghar Ahmadi said.
Solidarity joins a growing number of parties in Iran backing Mousavi for the Iranian presidency, including the influential Association of Combatant Clerics, backing the change rhetoric expressed by Mousavi.
Former President Mohammad Khatami withdrew his name from the Reformist slate in March, citing a need for party unity. Former Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mehdi Karroubi is running on the Reformist slate as well but faces mounting pressure to step aside.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to seek another term under the Principlist ticket, but that slate has so far not announced its official candidate.
Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf was expected to run as a Principlist but reconsidered, saying he did not want to run against against Ahmadinejad.
