Azerbaijan, Baku, Jun.4/ Trend F.Eminli
Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili has said that oil and gas should be used as the tools of power for the Iranian nation not the means for enemies to threaten us, IRIB News reported.
"Oil and gas reserves should be looked as the national assets, not the sources of income," Jalili said. "We should take advantage of the existing capacities and reduce the dependency on oil revenues".
We can curb inflation and runaway prices through supporting the domestic production, he emphasized.
Previously, Jalili said that a high turnout will guarantee national security and will help the country defend its rights in the international arena.
Jalili said that he signed up for the June 14 vote to show his commitment to the discourse of the Islamic Revolution.
He also said that boosting agriculture will be his top priority if he wins the presidential race, ISNA News Agency reported.
According to Jalili, millions of dollars have been allocated to the agriculture sector and that all the next chief executive needs to do is to release those funds to help the prosperity of rural areas.
Jalili will be facing Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, President of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, former telecommunication minister Mohammad Gharazi, and former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref in the election.
Iran will hold the 11th presidential election on June 14, 2013.
The voters will select the successor of the current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is not able to participate in the elections for the third term according to the country's constitutional laws.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election and the Guardian Council vets the candidates for qualifications.