Ahmadinejad Retracts Proposed Ministers

Khabaronline, a website associated with Majles Speaker Ali Larijani, reports that Ahmadinejad has formally retracted his Cabinet propositions. This is the first step in proposing new Cabinet ministers for energy, welfare, and education — the three Ahmadinejad ministers that were rejected. From Khabaronline (h/t New York Times): According to the House of the People website, […]

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 to MPs: Accept All Cabinet Nominees

Khabar Online is reporting that the Supreme Leader is placing further pressure on MPs to validate the entire Cabinet (h/t New York Times): With the publication of news from Majles Representatives based on the announcement from the Supreme Leader that he prefers a positive vote for all proposed Ministers, it is predicted that all 21 […]

Saeed Mortazavi: I dealt with post-election situation “brilliantly”

Many sources are reporting on the Farewell Address of Saeed Mortazavi, where he appears to openly flaunt his jailing of protesters following Iran’s Presidential elections. Check out BBC Persian‘s account (h/t New York Times): Saeed Mortazavi, “Independent Assistant” of the Prosecutor-General of Iran and former Prosecutor-General of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran has described his […]

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, […]

Major Mousavi Ally Released from Prison (UPDATED)

Hamzeh Ghalebi, one of Mousavi’s allies since his days as Prime Minister, has just been released from prison. He was forced to make a public confession in the August 25 court trial. More from the Majles Reformists’ news service Parleman News: The President of Mousavi’s Youth Organization Hamzeh Ghalebi has been freed just hours ago. […]

Rafsanjani’s Son Accuses Ahmadinejad of Embezzling 340 Million Tomans

Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, Ayatollah Rafsanjani’s son, has denied vociferously the claims of engineering “velvet revolution” raised  against him in confessions from yesterday’s trial. He sent an open letter to the President of IRIB for broadcasting the confessions. He was also accused of embezzling 2 million Iranian tomans. In refuting these charges, Rafsanjani publicly raised the […]