Khamenie Rejects Ahmadinejad’s Choice for VP

The Iranian internal politics and the power struggle are getting more exciting by the day! Today, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamamei formally rejected President Ahmadinejad’s decision to appoint Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, his son's father-in-law, as his first vice president.

Ahmadinejad’s first major appointment for his second-term cabinet had come under fierce attack by ultra conservatives, led by the influential Kayhan editor, Ali Shariatmadari. The government-owned Press TV reported on 19 July that Mashaie had withdrawn his name. The next day, pro-government websites, including Mashaie’s own website, announced that the “rumors” of withdrawal were propagated by anti-government forces, although the Press TV is a government-owned TV network! Now Khamaenie formally rejects the appointment.

The big looser today is of course Ahmadinejad. He seems to be loosing the support of the far right and increasingly operating in a void, loosing touch with the realities on the ground.

Mashaie Resigns – Major Setback for Ahmadinejad

Mashaie (right) with Ahmadinejad
2008 AP File Photo

President Ahmadinejad’s controversial choice of Eskandar Mashaie for his first vice president bowed out three days after his appointment [Press TV, 19 July]. The post, somewhat equivalent to the position of prime minister, was held during the first four-year term of Ahmadinejad’s presidency by Parviz Davoudi, a former economics professor.

Mashaie’s appointment came under harsh criticism by the conservatives, normally allies of Ahmadinejad. They objected to a remark he had made last year saying the Israeli people were friends of the Iranians. The appearance of nepotism (Mashaie’s daughter is married to Ahmadinejad’s son) also did not help his case. Hossein Shariatmadari, the influential editor of ultra-conservative Kayhan, all but doomed Mashaie’s appointment in a harshly worded editorial on Saturday.

With Mashaie’s withdrawal today, Ahmadinejad’s already battered image and influence, after the strong challenge mounted by the reformists and moderates to his re-election, got even worse. The last thing he needed was being attacked by Shaiatmadari and the conservatives on the very first appointment to his new cabinet. He should have expected the reaction from the right to this nomination, but it seems that he may be loosing touch with the realities on the ground.

UPDATE (20 July): Mashaie's website denies he is quitting: "The rumors have been spread by enemies of the government," the website said. Iran's government-owned Press TV had announced the resignation on Sunday.

Mousavi to Attend Friday's Prayer – Tensions Growing in Tehran

Qalam news website reports that the opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi will attend the Friday’s Prayer which will be led by Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani [Qalam, 15 July 2009].

Mousavi, in a letter published in Qalam, declared his readiness to join his supporters in attending the service, characterizing the move as the best way to protest the “unjust” suppression of the freedoms by the government.

It is expected that Mousavi supporters will also attend the gathering, potentially creating a protest atmosphere on Tehran streets after the service.

Countering the opposition, Hossein Shariatmadari, the influential editor of the ultra-conservative Kayhan, in an editorial to be published in Thursday's edition of the newspaper, has called on government supporters to attend the prayer services as well and has instructed them to chant pro-Khamenei slogans, such as “Khamenei, we are your soldiers; Khamenei, we are at your command!” [Kayhan, 16 July 2009].

Shariatmadari Warns against Talks on “Alleged Studies”

Keyhan's Hossein Shariatmadari

The influential publisher and editor of Keyhan Hossein Shariatmadari in an editorial on Monday warned Iranian officials against falling into the trap set for them by the US and Israelis to commit themselves to negotiations over “alleged studies.” The term is used by IAEA in reference to research allegedly undertaken in Iran to build nuclear weapons.

IAEA’s Olli Heinonen arrived in Tehran today and has just concluded the first day of talks with Iran’s nuclear officials on the very “alleged studies.” The talks will continue on Tuesday. Shariatmadari criticized the government for holding the talks.

“What is deploring and surprising is that our officials [in charge of the nuclear program] would agree to Heinonen’s visit,’ said Shariatmadari in his editorial.

Shariatmadari sees Heinonen’s visit as an affront to Iran’s independence. He argues that the country’s foreign policy should be wise and should be based on its national interests, and, probably above all, it should take Iran’s honor and glory into account. It’s Iran’s honor and glory that can be compromised by Heinonen’s visit.