Opinion
Did Khamenei Hear the People’s Call?
In these last few days different interpretations and analysis about the results of the June 14 presidential election have been written: commentary that refers to an important event – Rowhani’s electoral victory – which shocked almost everybody.
If Electoral Fraud Takes Place
It is already late, but the sooner you stop a loss the better. When Messer Khatami and Rafsanjani announce the unified reformist candidates just two days before the end of the legal campaign activities for the eleventh presidential election, talking about measures against possible electoral fraud is also late.
The S-300 Missiles and the Future of the Middle East
If what Syria’s Bashar Assad claims to have received from the Russians are really S-300 air defense missile systems, then the history of the Middle East may be divided into pre and post the sale of the missiles to Syria.
Rafsanjani’s Disqualification and the Pro-People Movement
The disqualification of Rafsanjani comes at the cost of diminishing the credibility of the supreme leader among clerics and in the body of the Islamic regime.
The New Rafsanjani
After his disqualification as a presidential candidate, Hashemi Rafsanjani is not the same person he was before the Guardian Council’s decision, just as he had changed after the 2009 presidential election.
On the Non-Legal Letter Written by Jurisprudents
As Iran’s Guardians Council is processing the qualifications of the presidential candidates, the country’s media has reported that 7,456 jurisprudents have written a letter requesting it to disqualify those individuals who “in the past and in the course of the 2009 sedition had deviated from the path of the revolution.”
We Have Done a Good Job
Iran is both a land of opportunity, and also the place where possibilities are missed. But this time we did a good job. We gathered around Hashemi, did not view him as a savior but invited him to run in the race with the common goal of preventing the destruction of the country.
What Has The Work of Heavens Come Down To?
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidential nominee has said, “I have received my approval to run for the post from the Heavens. Imam Al-ASR will force the Guardians Council to approve my qualifications.”
Cartoon
Elsewhere
Reports
Ahmadinejad Should Look Down and Depart
Speaking with Rooz about the fate of outgoing president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Ahmad Bakhshayesh a principlist member of the parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee said “Ahmadinejad’s period was over.”
On Reviving the Association of Iranian Journalists to Relations With the US
The first news conference of Iran’s new president-elect was held with comments on a wide range of issues that included reviving the Association of Iranian Journalists to the possibility of lifting the house arrests of Mousavi and Karoubi, which at the end brought some disorder to the event.
Where is Arash Sadeghi?
Close to 200 political activists published a letter through which they announced that disturbing rumors had been circulating about the condition of Arash Sadeghi who had started a hunger strike “because he had been beaten by security agents.”
People Taught the Regime and Reformists a Lesson
The head of Iran’s pro-reform Agents of Construction party, Gholam-Hossein Karbaschi, called the June 14 vote of the majority of Iranians to be the product of the maturity of Iranian society.
Conservatists Concede Defeat in Election
Even from the first hours of Saturday’s vote count, it was clear that Hassan Rowhani would at the least make it to the second round with a principlist rival.
Plainclothes Agents Launched Attacks
As the last hours of campaigning for the next president of Iran ticked off for the June 14 voting, supporters of Hassan Rowhani who had gathered and chanted compassionate slogans for the three leading reform leaders, plainclothes agents on foot and motorcycle attacked and disrupted their assembly.
Velayati Should Withdraw Before It Is Too Late
A big question confronting the conservatists, and others, in Iran’s presidential race is whether the principlists will rally behind a single candidate. The answer up to this point seems to be a no as its four candidates have displayed signs that they intend to stay in the race till the end.
A Senior Security Authority Caused My Disqualification
Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of Iran’s powerful State Expediency Council that was born to resolve differences between the Majlis and the Guardian Council, announced that the presence of a “senior security” authority at the GC and his recommendation caused the rejection of his presidential bid by the Council.
The Purchase and Sale of City Council Seats
In addition to the presidential race, another series of elections are on their way in Iran: elections to city and village councils. There are currently some 207,000 candidates competing for the 193 city councils seats and 118,960 candidates for the village councils.
Reformers Agree on Hassan Rowhani
It appears that the white smoke of consensus has finally appeared from the chimney for the reformers. Gholam-Hossein Karbaschi, Tehran’s former mayor, announced that Mohammad Khatami’s advisory council has elected Hassan Rowhani as its final candidate for the election,