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TEHRAN: The date for Iran's presidential elections has been fixed for June 12, 2009, the Mehr news agency reported on Sunday.
"Based on the approval of the Guardian Council... the elections for the tenth round of presidency will be held on June 12, 2009," the elections bureau director general, Ali Asghar Sharifi, was quoted as saying.
The Guardian Council is a conservative-controlled oversight body that vets legislation and supervises elections in the Islamic republic.
According to Iran's constitution, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who swept to power in 2005, can run for a second term but he has so far not indicated if he plans to do so.
Ahmadinejad has received the support of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to remain at the helm for another four-year tenure.
"Do not think that this year is your last year as head of the government. No. Act as if you will stay in charge for five years," the leader told members of the government last month.
Tehran mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf is among the potential conservative candidates.
Former president Mohammad Khatami has been highlighted as a potential reformist candidate as has Mehdi Karoubi, former parliament speaker and head of the reformist Etemad-e Melli (national confidence) party.
-AFP/yb
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