TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – A reformist candidate dropped out of Iran’s presidential election on Tuesday and threw his support behind President Hassan Rouhani, in a widely expected move that will strengthen the incumbent’s campaign against a hard-liner.
Eshaq Jahangiri, senior vice president under Rouhani, dropped out, leaving just four candidates in the race. “I will dedicate all my abilities to support Rouhani” in Friday’s election, Jahangiri said in a statement.
Rouhani also has the support of former President Mohammad Khatami, another reformist, who endorsed him on Sunday.
On Monday, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dropped out of the election to back hard-liner Ebrahim Raisi. The two campaigned together on Tuesday, appearing at a packed rally in Tehran, where Raisi promised Qalibaf an important role in his administration.
The election is largely viewed as a referendum on the nuclear deal struck with world powers and shepherded by Rouhani’s administration. Iran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of some economic sanctions.