The former first vice president said an epic political event, as advised by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, will only come about through a massive turnout in the June 14th vote.

Aref said the Islamic Revolution is based on ethics and those who want to win must not sacrifice ethics as was the case in the previous election.

The Reformist candidate said national interests, security and stability in the country are of special importance and that he will never sacrifice them for short-term political gain.

Earlier this week, Iran’s Interior Ministry published a list of eight candidates approved by the Guardian Council to run in the country’s 11th presidential election slated for June 14.

In addition to Aref, Iranian lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, Secretary of the Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, President of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi and former Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Velayati comprise the approved candidates.

The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election.