In his latest remarks Mohammad Khatami blasted the violent treatment of the people and the “absolute freedom of violence-spreaders” and called on the Islamic Republic supreme leader to be the leader of all Iranians.

Speaking to central committee members of Khane Ahzab (House of Parties), Khatami warned against the “supreme leader’s affinity with a certain faction,” noting, “We want Islam and the Constitution; we want the supreme leader, who has an important role in the constitutional framework, to be the leader of the whole country and all the people. “

According to the Baran Foundation’s news website, Khatami declared “the supreme leader’s affinity for one political faction a betrayal of ayatollah Khomeini, the revolution and Islam,” adding that if policies and behaviors create that impression in society they must be changed.

Leadership of Lies

Mohammad Khatami’s remarks are published while in recent days and weeks rumors had spread about the behind-the-scenes compromise of the former Iranian president with ayatollah Khamenei.  The rumors, spread by media outlets supportive of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, indicated that in a letter to ayatollah Khamanei, Khatami had conceded the legitimacy of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s administration.  

The rumors were denied by Khatami but last week the Irandokht magazine claimed that in his letter to the supreme leader Khatami had written, “The reformist faction and we recognize the present administration’s legitimacy but extremism must be stopped.  Extremism exists both on this side and on the other side.”  

Yesterday, Mohammad Khatami again denied the rumors about the letter, announcing, “Some have a mission to lie, ‘so and so has written a letter,’ or ‘so and so is stated in the letter’; but neither anyone is aware of the contents of it nor such things exist.”  

Emphasizing that the green movement’s leaders have not turned their backs against he people, Khatami clarified that these rumors “pursue the wrong and treacherous aim of creating hopelessness among the people, to say that popular figures have turned their backs on the people, which is not true.”

Cannot Treat a Revolutionary in Whatever Way

In another part of his speech, Khatami said that “social problems are not resolved through pressure and violence,” and that “it cannot be said that whoever has a criticism is a revolutionary and must be treated harshly.”

The head of the reformist administration emphasized, “I believe that you cannot treat even a revolutionary in whatever way,” hoping that violence is no longer employed against the people.

Khatami pointed out the violation of the Constitution as the main protest of the reformists at this juncture, noting, “If the Constitution is violated by groups and factions, that is bad, and if is violated by the government, that is worse.”  

He also argued that the Islamic Republic and democracy are not possible without political parties and called for the freedom of political parties in Iran.  

The head of the Baran Foundation also referred to the Iranian people’s one-hundred year struggle for democracy and against dictatorial rulers, adding, “In the present era also government that do not rely on the people instead rely automatically on foreigners.”

Khatami also emphasized the necessity for massive popular presence in the 22 Bahman march: “It would have been great had our loved ones who are in prison now been able to be among us so that we could participate in the 22 Bahman demonstration together.”