“He left Tehran after he was informed that he was disqualified as a candidate by the Guardian Council,” the source said.

Iran’s interior ministry announced today (Tuesday) the list of qualified candidates for the presidential election. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and president Ahmadinejad’s controversial aide, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei were disqualified by the Guardian Council for being competent to take responsibility of the presidency.

“Mr. Hashemi is to meet some of Qom’s top clerics,” the source said.

Hashemi may be seeking the support of powerful Ayatollahs in Qom to appeal the decision of removing him from the presidential election race.

Although some other observers suggest that chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council, Hashemi Rafsanjani left Tehran as a “sign of pain”.

“His disqualification makes a very bad impact on his public image, he may stay in Qom and not return to Tehran,”an observer who is familiar with Hashemi said.

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