Rouhani Criticizes Revolutionary Guard in Firey Speech

CHRI – Rouhani Criticizes Revolutionary Guard in Firey Speech

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During his last campaign rally on May 17 in the city of Mashhad–the hometown of his main rival Ebrahim Raisi–Rouhani accused the powerful Revoluntionary Guard and Basij paramilitary forces of interfering in the political process:

“We like the Revolutionary Guard and the Basij militia. All we are asking is to carry out the wishes of the imam (the leader of the 1979 revolution, Ruhollah Khomeini), who said that the military and security forces should not interfere in any political party or organization.”

Other key quotes from Rouhani’s speech, which was made to a packed stadium of over 50,000 people, and which was directed at hardliner Raisi and his supporters:

“You (conservative opponents) did not help us in the (nuclear) negotiations. That’s fine. But why stab us in the back by making intimidating anonymous calls to (Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad) Zarif and (Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas) Araghchi?”

“We have one government, one leader, one constitution. We don’t want a leader in every city. Don’t disrespect any person or any Friday Prayer leader.” (Reference to hardline cleric Ahmad Alamolhoda, Mashhad’s Friday prayer leader who has endorsed Raisi.)

“You told the people of Mashhad if they want art and artistic events, they should leave the city. Would you like to take Iran and tell the people to leave the country?”

“The hooligans you hired with knives to tear up campaign banners confessed to being paid a million tomans ($308 USD) an hour. Why did you raise the rate so high!?”

“Why did you attack the Saudi Arabian embassy (in Tehran, 2016)? Do you want to run the country by igniting fires here and there?”

Green Movement Leader: “Absolutely Necessary” to Vote for Rouhani

In addition to recieving endorsements from reformist leader Mohammad Khatami and detained Green Movement leader Mehdi Karroubi earlier this week, Rouhani recieved a strong message of support from Green Movement leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who, along with Karroubi and Zahra Rahnavard, has beenunder extrajudicial house arrest since February 2011 for disputing the 2009 election result and encouraging the widespread, peaceful protests that ensued. Mousavi and his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, will attempt to vote for Rouhani in Friday’s election, they told relatives at their home on May 16.

“In the meeting Mousavi gave an analysis of the current state of affairs and political situation and said: ‘The propaganda on state radio and television has made it absolutely necessary to vote for Mr. Rouhani. During sensitive times, it is the people who lead and their voice is stronger than the state radio and television,'” the pro-reform Kalame website reported.

The report added that Mousavi and Rahnavard have requested a mobile ballot box to make a stop at their home on Akhtar St. in Tehran.

Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the revered leader of the 1979 revolution who is close to reformists, also endorsed Rouhani on May 16.

Anti-Rouhani Campaign Sabotage Attempts Continue

Since April 2017, the presidential campaign of the incumbent contender Hassan Rouhani has been the target of various sabotage attempts.

The latest attempt took place on May 16: “Just now Rouhani’s campaign office in Vali Asr [Sq. in Tehran] was attacked with tear gas and people and staff scattered! Everyone removed their purple wristbands fearing they might get identified,” tweeted an informed source. Purple is the Rouhani campaign’s official color.

Revolutionary Guard Could Be Deployed at Polling Stations

“The police might coordinate with the Armed Forces General Command and ask for back-up,” said the head of the national election monitoring committee, Ali Asghar Ahmadi, on May 15. “Some might try to spread doubts about this action, but the truth is that all the armed forces and the police and security agencies, including the Revolutionary Guard, the army, the police and the Intelligence Ministry are a single arm and the pride of the Iranian nation.”

A day later, the head of the election monitoring committee in Tehran, Alireza Rahimi, condemned the suggestion.

“The deployment of military forces at polling stations, while using the lack of sufficient policemen as an excuse, is unacceptable,” said Rahimi on May 16. “The people’s maximum participation and their confidence in peaceful elections are important to us. We have always been proud that peace and security have been ensured with the help of the people themselves, and anything that disturbs this situation would be unbecoming.”

Race Comes Down to Rouhani and Raisi

Reformist Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri dropped out of the presidential race in favor of incumbent President Hassan Rouhani on May 16. The announcement came a day after Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf withdrew from the election in favor of hardliner Ebrahim Raisi.