Analysts said the marked change in the criticism formulated lately by Mr. Reza’i against the incumbent President shows that he might have received the backing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenehe'i, the leader of the Islamic Republic.

"Mr. Reza’i has started his electoral campaign ahead of the official salvo", commented one observer, pointing to a short item in the press confirming his "backward" entrance in the race, saying his candidacy is "seriously under review" from a group made of some clerics, revolutionary guards officers and Majles deputies.

"A new current formed by some present and former MMs (Member of Majles, the Iranian parliament), clerics and revolutionary guards officers, including Mr. Mohsen Reza’i himself, named "The Third Discourse" is taking shape, studying the possibility of his candidacy in the next presidential elections", announced "Entekhab" (Choice), a daily leaning towards the ruling conservatives, without naming the personalities involved.

The news confirmed an earlier dispatch by "Iran Press Service" (IPS) that said, quoting Iranian political analysts, that Mr. Reza’i, the former Commander of the Revolutionary Guards is entering the presidential race "on his toes and from the back door".

According to Mr. Reza'i, three fundamental issues seriously menaces the country: unemployment, insecurity, something which is very serious and discrimination, "all fruits of incompetence, in the Judiciary, but particularly in the Executive. Poverty existed before, but grew wider in the past four years, alongside with discrimination and insecurity", he said, referring to Mr. Khatami's years of presidency.

"Personally, I consider Mr. Khatami as a humble person belonging to the clergy and a good spokesman both inside and outside, but is not a good manager. We have a complicated elections ahead, if Mr. Khatami comes forward with crystal clear project, people might vote for him", he added, expressing doubts over Mr. Khatami's chances to be re-elected.

The information about the formation of a new grouping around Mr. Reza’i and his latest speech follows a letter he published two days earlier warning the embattled President to change projects and programs if he wants to stay in office.

Iranian political analysts interpreted the letter as a "pilot balloon" flown by the former revolutionary guards commander to "test" his chances of become the next president in case Mr. Khatami decides not to seek a new mandate, as some circles, mostly from the conservative faction, says is his decision.

Conservative opponents of Mr. Khatami accuses him to keep the nation in a state of suspense in order to gain more votes, as, they say, abandoned by many voters, particularly the young ones, Mr Khatami fears a big run down of popularity compared with four years ago, when he got more than 20 millions votes.

In the letter, Mr. Reza’i questioned Mr. Khatami’s economic achievements, stating that some of his ministers and collaborators present statistics on inflation or unemployment rates not corresponding to realities and shed doubts on the conduct of foreign policy, especially concerning Iraq.

"Several newspapers, self-proclaimed to support you, have initiated a smear campaign and are fanning the political tension in the society by publishing false news," Reza’i said in the letter, keeping silence on the "bundle closure" of some 40 publications, most of them independent and pro-reforms, and the jailing of a dozen of reformist editors and journalists.

"Khatami, who has brought Iran some major gains, would be well-advised to retire in order to preserve his good image and his name in the history of our country", he told IRNA.