Khatami Out

As I predicted last week, former Iranian president Muhammad Khatami is withdrawing from the presidential race:

"Iran's moderate former president Mohammad Khatami on March 16 withdrew his candidacy from the country's June presidential election, a close ally told Reuters.

"'He has decided to withdraw...but he will back another moderate candidate who will be announced shortly in a statement by Khatami,' the ally, who declined to be named, said.

"The ally did not give a reason for the withdrawal nor did he name the politician who Khatami would back but the former president had a meeting with another moderate candidate, former prime minister Mirhossein Mousavi, on March 15."

Expect Khatami to support Mousavi.

(Crossposted to American Footprints)