Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Morteza Alviri, a member of the new City Council, said Najafi has been chosen as the final nominee for the post of Tehran Mayor with the unanimous vote of the council.
All 21 members of the incoming council voted in favor of Najafi, Alviri noted.
However, the election will be formalized only when the new council convenes its first official meeting, he added.
Najafi, 66, is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Affiliated with the ‘reformist’ political party, Najafi used to serve as the Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture in various administrations.
He also took the helm at Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) during President Rouhani’s first term, but resigned after six months.