TEHRAN – Reformist politician Mohsen Mehralizadeh on Thursday withdrew his candidacy for the upcoming city council election.

Mehralizadeh, former vice president of Iran and the head of the National Sports Organization, was a candidate from Tehran, Rey and Tajrish constituency.

He is one of Reformists’ choices as Tehran mayor to replace Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf who has served as Tehran’s mayor for almost 12 years.

Mehralizadeh was also the governor of Khorasan province between 1997 and 2001.

MH/AK