Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's bid for an unprecedented third term as Iranian president drew mixed reactions today, but most agreed the wily pragmatist cleric was firm favourite to win the June 17th vote.
Mr Rafsanjani (70) ended weeks of uncertainty late on Tuesday by announcing he would stand for the post he held for two terms from 1989 to 1997, to save the Islamic state from the grip of extremists and "build international confidence".
"Return of the president" proclaimed the reformist Farhang-e Ashti newspaper; "The end of all doubts, Hashemi Rafsanjani came" said the liberal Donya-ye Eqtesad.
Unofficial opinion polls have placed Mr Rafsanjani, a moderate conservative who has made several attempts throughout his career to improve Iran's ties with the United States, with a clear lead over his nearest rival.
Mr Rafsanjani registered to stand in the late afternoon, telling reporters that talks with the European Union aimed at assuaging fears Tehran could be building nuclear arms had not reached a deadlock and there was still room to negotiate.
"Based on the polls and surveys I have received, the majority of the elite and the people want me to run -- but we must wait and see what the result will be," he said.
But the polls also favoured Mr Rafsanjani before the 2000 parliamentary elections, in which he was forced to withdraw his candidacy to be an MP after obtaining embarrassingly few votes.