Iran's reform-minded former president, Mohammad Khatami, is considering running for the 2009 elections in the apparent hope that he will be seen as a saviour who can extricate Iran from domestic and international troubles.

While cautioning that it is still early days, close allies of Mr Khatami say he remains one of the rare personalities in Iran who has enough appeal to wrest the presidency from fundamentalists. "He is willing to run and we think he'll win in a landslide if elections were held today. But we still have to wait and test the waters in due time," said one ally.