Rafsanjani joins presidential race in Iran

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian powerbroker Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who favours improved ties with the West, on Tuesday finally plunged into the presidential election race that opinion polls suggest he is favourite to win.

Raising the stakes ahead of the June 17 vote, a senior official said Tehran had decided to resume some weapons-related nuclear work very soon, a move the United States and the EU have said would see Iran's case sent to the U.N. Security Council.

Rafsanjani, 70, is favoured in opinion polls to win the election to replace outgoing reformist cleric Mohammad Khatami, who is barred from seeking a third consecutive term.

Rafsanjani had dithered for several weeks over whether to stand for the job he held from 1989 to 1997.

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