Dr Mehdi Khazali, the candidate in Iran’s twelfth presidential election: I have come to rescue a country that is collapsing!

Dr Mehdi Khazali conducted his first presidential campaign interview via the global television network, DorrTV.

Less than forty days remains until the twelfth presidential election in Iran, and the candidates of different parties have been somewhat confirmed.

President Hassan Rouhani has been confirmed as the sole reformist candidate in Iran’s twelfth presidential election. There is however the talk of a second candidate from the reformist party whose identity has not yet been disclosed.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has introduced Hamid Baghaei from his faction. Given the fact that Hamid Baghaei has publically announced that he will not take even the slightest of actions without the permission of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, it is clear that Baghaei’s plans for running the country are the same plans that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had during his eight years of presidency.

Conservatives have introduced Ebrahim Raisi as the presidential candidate from their party.

However, as it is now widely known, Ebrahim Raisi was the head of the Death Committee in 1988, which was responsible for the massacre of more than 30,000 political prisoners.

Dr Mehdi Khazali, an independent presidential candidate who describes himself as a “conservative reformist” has joined us in this exclusive interview.

DorrTV: Yesterday, your electoral campaign was officially launched, and immediately after which, a statement was released under the title of “Charter of Liberation Front”. Please provide our viewers with some insight regarding this released document.

Dr Mehdi Khazali: Yesterday on the 8th April 2017, day of Sharaf ol-Shams (A rare celestial event where Mars, Earth and Sun Align), I launched my electoral campaign, and I pray that the Sun shines upon our country. However, the campaign was launched very late; there are only forty days left until the Election Day. In democratic countries, presidential campaigns take up to two years, as candidates compete with one another, but in Iran, we have yet to experience the atmosphere of presidential campaigns during this election period. The government wants to conduct its work in darkness, with the lights off during this election, so that all parties are in fact campaigning in favour of the Iranian regime.

However, we are looking for serious change, and forty days is just not enough to get my policy ideas across to our citizens. I am officially asking for the support of whoever can hear my voice. We have come to rescue a country that is collapsing, a ship that is sinking, and the only method to solve this crisis is to use these new policy ideas; policy ideas which must be communicated to the entire world, and those who do not support these policies must be made responsible for the critical condition of our country.

DorrTV: Mr Khazali, yesterday, you wrote a letter to president Rouhani about being banned from provincial trips in order to campaign for your presidency. Could you give us a brief explanation of this letter?

Dr Mehdi Khazali: Ebrahim Raisi who is the first person to officially announce his candidacy, is using the money from the treasury of the Astan-e Ghods Razavi, in order to travel between different provinces, to hand out goods and money to citizens, particularly in areas with extreme poverty, who actually became poor due to people like Raisi himself. Ahmadinejad whose eight-year presidency caused the largest corruption in the history of mankind, is free to travel between various provinces to hold campaigns. President Rouhani has excused his ministers from carrying out their crucial roles, and instead are now in various provinces campaigning for him.

However, when I want to organise talks in the cities, we see that the representatives of the government disapprove and create barriers in front of us. That is why I had no choice but to send this letter to President Rouhani, in order to explain that it is not right that your governance treated Dr Hassan Hashemi, a potential candidate in such a manner, the same manner that I, an independent candidate have been treated. Well, I hope this problem is resolved so that I can visit and hold campaigns in cities and provinces from tomorrow.

DorrTV: Dr Khazali, you have signed up as a candidate with completely different policies compared to other candidates. One of your policies is to exclude the Iranian army from the political and economic affairs of the country.  A policy to return the commanders of the Iranian army to their barracks, as well as the re-opening of the American embassy in Tehran. My question on behalf of all Iranian people is why should people vote for you?

Dr Mehdi Khazali: As I have mentioned on numerous occasions, I hold the law to be supreme and always act within the boundaries of the law, as no act or person should be above the law.

We read that Prophet Mohammad saw himself as equal with an ordinary worker, and we how Imam Ali was brought to justice in a court. Our criterion is this, and our policies are different. Our slogan is to move away from ignorance, and fake conservatives and reformists, and turn towards rationality. Chanting death to other countries and climbing walls of embassies cannot save this ‘sinking ship’. New policies that are internationally approved must be enforced; policies that can take Iran off the list of terrorists and supporters of terrorists; so that we can build international trust, reduce conflicts and establish positive interactions with the entire world. The only policies we will put forward are the policies of the Libertarian Front, and such policies will be broadcasted worldwide.

DorrTV: Dr Khazali, my last question from you is regarding the ethnic and religious diversities and minorities in Iran, who have been suppressed during the past 38 years. If you qualify the coming presidential election and the public vote for you, how will their situation be different under your presidency?

Dr Mehdi Khazali: I think I have answered this question several times. In the Charter of the Liberation Front, it is very clear that we respect all people regardless of their gender, ethnicity, faith, religion and their belief systems. After assigning responsibilities to different sectors of the government, meritocracy will be the principles by which the country will be governed.

Our applications for liabilities and responsibilities will not take into account any religion or belief system. Under my presidency, one can be Jewish and the director-general of the Central Bank. Or for the director of an industry to become the Minister of Industry, while being a Christian, Sunni, Zoroastrian or of any other religion. We will not question anyone about his or her religion or gender. A woman who is qualified can become a Minister, Lawyer, or a Mayor or carry out any other role; being a female does not put her at a disadvantage or at an advantage.

I must remind those watching that since 2009, I have been revealing the true face of the Iranian regime, and from today (2017), I have come to take away its legitimacy. If wise decisions are made to approve of my liability to become president, my policies can provide solutions for the crisis in Syria (and Iran’s involvement), removing ISIS, and improve communications with the rest of the world, including the USA and Europe.

If I am disqualified from entering the presidential elections, I will ask for the public’s support again, but this time, not through the decision of Jannati (clergy), but purely supporting the candidate with morals standards. I have come and will stand until I am victorious in saving our country, or delegitimising the current regime. This is a large referendum. For the final time, I am asking for everyone’s support in this election. Those who heard my voice and did not respond must know that I have accomplished my duties, and it is you who must feel responsible