Saeed Mohammad, 53, headed the Guards' construction and engineering arm for over two years before announcing his resignation in early March to run in the poll.

Candidates have yet to be vetted by the Islamic republic's Guardian Council.

"I decided to run since... the supreme leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) has asked for change and a transformation in the managerial generation," Mohammad told a news conference in Tehran.

Mohammad, who holds the rank of second brigadier general, stressed his campaign was "not associated with any movement, party or faction".

"I am strongly against polarisation... the talk of the left and the right, reformist and conservative," he added.

The presidential hopeful now serves as an advisor to Guards commander Major General Hossein Salami.

Mohammad brushed off a question on whether Iran needs a military president, calling on the media to focus on his "capabilities, achievements and track record".

"The people are tired. Not of the (system), but of mismanagement, empty words, inaction," he said. "We need order, a powerful government".