BEIJING, June 16 -- Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani remains the favorite as campaigning comes to a close for Friday's presidential election in Iran.

    The poll could determine how Iran handles its nuclear standoff w ith the West and whether it sticks to reforms initiated by outgoing President Mohammad Khatami.

    Rafsanjani is bidding to regain the post he held from 1989 to 1997. He masterminded arms-for-hostages swaps with the United States in the 1980s.

    He says the time is right for a "new chapter" in Iran-US ties. And it could start with Washington unblocking billions of US dollars of frozen assets.

    Polls of 67 million Iranians show Rafsanjani remains short of the 50 percent support he needs to avoid a run-off vote.

    Reformist Mostafa Moin is one of his closest rivals. He's promised to tackle human rights abuses.

    There's also conservative Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a former police chief said to enjoy the backing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    The campaign has broken taboos in the Islamic state as candidates try to appeal to young voters. Enditem

(Source: CCTV.com)