Why Rafsanjani is so important for the Greens
Six months ago in Mashad, Iran, Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani delivered a speech to a group of Iranian student activists saying: “If people want us, we will govern; and if they don’t, we will have to go.” This might have seemed like nothing new, but it wasn’t coming from just anyone — it was said by […]
That’s Mr. Supreme Leader to You?
Following the news of Mehdi Karroubi ‘recognizing’ Ahmadinejad as head of government, many are quick to label him as a traitor, or wonder why the sudden softened stance from Karroubi. Although both Khatami and Karroubi dropped their demand for a new presidential election, the reformists still maintain that the presidential election was fraudulent. According to […]
Khamenei Has Ordered Arrest of Karroubi (UPDATED)
Mousavi’s Green Path of Hope news service is reporting that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has ordered opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi’s arrest. Here is the translation of that report (translation copyright New York Times): Informed news sources in Tehran report that “hearings” indicate Khamenei has given an order for the arrest of Karroubi. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, […]
Friday Prayer leader: Why isn’t Mousavi being arrested?
In a further sign of a confrontation between a united conservative front and the Mousavi camp, today’s Friday Prayer leader in Isfahan indirectly called for Mousavi’s arrest. News website Peykiran reports (translation exclusive to New York Times): [Isfahan’s Friday prayer leader] announced: “The people expect that the Judiciary must bring judgment upon the people who […]
Conservative MP: Khamenei Urged MPs to Support Cabinet
In the latest sign suggesting that Ahmadinejad’s political power depends on Khamenei’s backing, AFP is reporting that a senior conservative MP has said the Cabinet’s approval depended on Khamenei’s support. From AFP: TEHRAN — Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged MPs to approve President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s cabinet, a senior lawmaker said on Friday, the […]
Supreme Leader, Armed Forces Pressure MPs to Accept Cabinet
According to unconfirmed reports, the Supreme Leader’s office and the Commander of Iran’s Armed Forces have been pressuring MPs to accept Ahmadinejad’s Cabinet. Rouydad News reports (h/t New York Times): There have been contacts from the office of the Supreme Leader and people close to Ahmadinejad to MPs [to support his Cabinet]. In one case, […]