The following is part of an exclusive Press TV interview with Iranian presidential candidate Mohsen Rezaei conducted while the politician was on a campaign visit to the southern port city of Bandar Abbas on the shores of the Persian Gulf.

Stability in the Persian Gulf

Rezaei: I have two very beautiful feelings when I am here in this area. One is the feeling of being an Iranian, which I always have when I am near the Persian Gulf. All Iranians identify themselves with the Persian Gulf.

The second feeling I have relates to being in the south. I have this feeling because I consider myself a southerner and have a stronger connection with the south.

A little misunderstanding has been taking shape between us and our brothers in Arab states. They do not know what Iran plans to do in the future. Some of our enemies are taking advantage of these uncertainties and are trying to create rifts between us.

By involving them more, we can give them confidence and dissolve these misunderstandings. Our common future is to join together in developing the region.

When we have a common future, there will be no reason to express concern when speaking of the Persian Gulf. The Hormouz Strait in my government will be the strait of trade and peace. Stability in the Persian Gulf will be of great importance in my government.

On the economy

Rezaei: The root of these economic problems is structural but during the government of Mr Ahmadinejad things have become worse. President Ahmadinejad's economic management has made these structural problems deeper. That is why I talk of an economic revolution.

Even when Mr Ahmadinejad is gone our economic problems are not all going to be solved unless we pursue an economic revolution which changes the economic foundation.

Problems like unemployment and inflation have existed for more than 40 years. I will bring economic underdevelopment to an end.

The government of Mr Ahmadinejad devours capital rather than use it to create more investment.

Attention to youth

Rezaei: The danger that I see is first and foremost that we have a golden opportunity and the government has failed to make use of it.

Today, the United States and Europe need us in the region but we do not play the constructive role that we could. Iran is in a great geopolitical position and has the potential to use this geopolitical position to its benefit but it is not currently doing so. Iran has just entered an era in which its youth consist of the majority, and this will last for another 10 years.

If we do not make use of this for the national good, in 10 or 15 years the Iranian population will be considered as having entered an old age. This is an important opportunity and missing it will endanger our future.

No 'adventurous' foreign policy

Rezaei: Sanctions are a political issue. The Bush administration imposed these sanctions under a pretense. Now that Bush is no longer in power, 50% of the problem is solved. The other 50% is down to us to present constructive proposals for mutual changes between Iran and the United States and put the current period of pretense behind us. I propose a policy of constructive interaction which will be followed by changes in attitudes from both Iran and the United States.

The first step has been taken. The Americans have sent us a message and our leadership has said that if America changes we will also change. Therefore, by presenting a practical package that includes diplomacy and foreign policy it is possible to determine which steps the Americans must take and what steps we would consequently take. In the end, we will be able to change the current political atmosphere which is the main reason for the international sanctions.

In foreign policy, I will change Iran's priorities away from security and will focus on the economy. I will prepare the embassies in Iran for greater economic interaction and give more power to the economic attaches of embassies. The main objective of our foreign policy is to be more economy-oriented rather than security-oriented.

The nuclear issue

Rezaei: With regards to the nuclear issue, we have been through a period of suspension and also a period of enrichment expansion. We have now reached a crucial point and need to bring about a change in the path toward enrichment. We will bring this change through the formation of a joint consortium that involves Iran, Europe and regional countries.

With these countries participation in the process of uranium enrichment and their involvement in the management of this consortium, we will aim to use or sell all the material produced in Iran or other countries.

As a result, the concerns of some countries which others can take advantage of will be eliminated, while at the same time we will continue to enrich uranium. If we engage in this policy and pursue constructive interaction with the West, there will be new types of cooperation between and the West and in the end, the current conflicts will come to an end.

Management change

Rezaei: I will change the way the country is managed. I will change the principles upon which this management takes place. Instead of a government run by individuals following their own paths, I will establish a coalition government. A coalition government will raise the standard of government management, and especially economic management.

Staying in the Race

Rezaei: In the last elections people voted for Mr Ahmadinejad in order to escape from the past but they no longer need an escape from the past. They are just looking for a third way. A third way which contains the past and also incorporates honesty and pragmatism and transfers power to the next generations, which means moving toward the future without destroying the past.

I think the path that I am following is in line with what the people want.

I will not pull out of the race this time.