Iranian clerics endorse ex-FM for next president TEHRAN, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Clerics of a key Iranian religious society voiced support for candidate Ali-Akbar Velayati, a former foreign minister, for the country's next president, Press TV reported on Sunday. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Society of Qom Seminary Instructors announced its official support for Velayati, said the report. The statement was signed by Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, head of the society and former Iranian Judiciary chief. Velayati has been critical for the current Iranian government in forming its foreign policy and nuclear diplomacy. He said that the economic problems of Iran will be solved if its relations with other countries are regulated in a friendly way. The support of the clerics of Iran's major religious school of Qom to Velayati can change the balance of the polls slated for June 14 in his favor within the religious community. Velayati, currently a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is rivalled by Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibf and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.