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Tehran mayor and a candidate in Iran's 12th presidential election, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, has issued a statement announcing his withdrawal from the presidential race while backing principlist candidate, Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi.

"The day I decided to enter the election despite my personal interests, I was aware that I would face difficult and dangerous conditions," Qalibaf said in the statement on Monday.

He added that it was clear to him that bringing about any fundamental change to the status quo would not be possible unless through a fight against the "four-percent" affluent minority, which has been in control of the country's economic and political resources for long years.

"The fight against pseudo-revolutionary opportunists has become highly costly, because this [opportunistic] current is gnawing at the roots of the [Islamic] Revolution like a termite," the statement said.

The opportunists, Qalibaf said in his statement, "are not only at odds with the intellectual fundaments of original revolutionaries, but also represent a [political] current whose material interests are at risk."

"Right now, the main goal of the country and the people is to change the status quo, and for that end, there was no other way than beginning a genuine fight free of slogans against aristocracy and opportunism in line with a precise and comprehensive solution to the country’s woes," Qalibaf said.

Tehran's mayor stressed the importance of preserving the interests of the country, its people and the Islamic Revolution.

A fundamental decision must be made for the unity of the revolution front, the statement said, adding, "In order to protect this great goal, I ask all my supporters across the country to pitch in with their full capacity for the success of Hojjatoleslam Ebrahim Raeisi."

Mr. Raeisi’s sudden rise to presidential candidacy came as a surprise to many. A soft spoken man, who served mostly in the judiciary for the past thirty – eight years rarely appeared in the media. But his delicate presence in debates made Rouhani loose many of his votes. Mr. Qalibaf's withdrawal is seen in Iran as a clear sign of a united front to defeat president Rouhani.

The authenticated polling in Iran shows Raeisi's popularity has surged and he will win the election in the first round.