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During a speech at Tehran University last Tuesday, Iran’s former President Mohammad ‎Khatami crossed the red lines on three specific occasions for which he will be the subject ‎of vehement attacks by the supporters of the current administration.‎

In his talk Khatami stressed that people wished to vote for those who paid attention to ‎them, and asked: “What right do we have to decide on behalf of the public and disqualify ‎the candidacy of individuals that the public has approved simply because their standing ‎has not been verified by a mere 6 or 12 individuals [referring to the members of Guardian ‎Council]?”‎

In his talk, he also critically referred to ‘Trying Hossein Moussavian even before the ‎court proceedings’, and said this on the charges of ‘treason’ that were raised against Iran's ‎former nuclear negotiator: “If the issue is about providing the addresses of traitors, then ‎we already have them.” ‎

And in response to a question by a student who asked about a comment that ultra-‎conservative cleric Mesbah Yazdi had made by saying “Our universities are not Islamic”, ‎Khatami’s response to the cleric’s comments was, “These people have no business.” ‎

So Khatami criticized Guardians Council, an official institution of the Islamic Republic ‎that vets candidates for every election in the country, for making decisions on behalf of ‎the public, by disqualifying candidates to public office. The government media in Iran ‎will not ignore this opportunity to attack Khatami for “questioning the constitution of the ‎Islamic Republic”, an agency whose powers go beyond ‘guardianship’.‎

And regarding the recent arrest, and then acquittal, of Hossein Moussavian, who was ‎charged with treason and espionage, Khatami attacked those who had charged the former ‎member of the national security council, and spoke of the “traitors” whose addresses ‎were clear. For this too he will be attacked by those whom he charged (all we have to do ‎is wait for a few days to read their premature responses).‎

But most importantly, Khatami crossed the red line of criticizing the ultra-conservative ‎ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi – who happens to be a firm supporter of the current President - ‎which is going to be a costly affair for him. One can be sure that MesbahYazdi’s cohorts ‎are going to be relentless in their drive to avenge the criticism.‎

One should not forget that Khatami witnessed plenty of headaches during his 8-year ‎administration from these zealous supporters of ayatollah Mesbah.‎

Stay tuned; more to come.‎