Perhaps it would not be inaccurate to say that, if until yesterday, time was on seyed Mohammad Khatami’s side, today, his pointless hesitance in announcing his June 2009 presidential candidacy, favors his main rival, incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Ayatollah Khamenei, who had criticized Khatami’s policies during his tenure as the highest official in the authoritarian camp, has now focused all his energy on convincing Khatami not to run. Lately, using illness as an excuse, he did not even allow Khatami to meet with him to discuss issues related to his candidacy. As such, Khatami remained unable to announce his decision regarding the upcoming presidential election and after that, former interior minister in the Khatami administration, Mousavi Lari claimed that Khatami would reveal his final decision by February 11 (anniversary of the victory of the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the monarchy and brought the clerics to power).
Currently, opinion polls reveal that if he runs, Khatami will receive so many more votes than Ahmadinejad that not even widespread rigging of ballot boxes can change the results in Ahmadinejad’s favor. However, it is obvious that Khatami’s main concerns are related not to what happens before or during the election, but to what may take place after it. He does not know whether he will be able to implement his policies should he win the election.
Apparently, noting the Supreme Leader’s repeated endorsements of Ahmadinejad – especially during recent speeches – Khatami has made the decision to have a private discussion with Ayatollah Khamenei prior to announcing his decision of “coming” or “not coming.” Possibly, more than seeking permission as to whether to participate or not participate in the election, Khatami intends to explain the country’s critical situation to Khamenei and relaying the important message that if things continue to deteriorate and public discontent continues to increase, the Islamic Republic and the country would both crumble in a not very distant future.
In my opinion, now that exactly five months are remaining until the presidential election, Khatami must not refuse to run even if Ayatollah Khamenei openly opposes his candidacy. In my opinion, now that Khatami has reached this critical juncture, he must not only not postpone his final decision until the anniversary of the Islamic revolution’s victory, but announce his candidacy before the door keeper to Ayatollah Khamenei’s office grants him a “meeting time” and without holding a private meeting with the Supreme Leader.
Under these circumstances, not only would most political and civil society activists step in to support Khatami, but other potential candidates such as Mir Hossein Mousavi and Abdollah Nouri would also rise to save the nation.
