Iran's senior clerics condemn divisive comments

Ayatollah Rafsanjani

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, chairman of the Expediency Council and Hassan Rohani, head of the Council’s strategic research echoed each other’s concerns about the deepening divisions in Iran.

Hashemi Rafsanjani, who had aligned himself with reformists giving rise to the ire of the conservatives, in a meeting with principalist clergy of the parliament, spoke out against spreading of rumours and slandering, calling them “the scourge of national unity.”

ILNA reports that the Chairman of the Expediency Council has called for finding the real roots and causes of the differences in the society and confronting their divisive objectives.

Ayatollah Rohani

Hassan Rohani also criticized the post-election events in an official meeting declaring “Some have claimed that people’s vote should be merely ceremonial but this is contrary to Ayatollah Khomeini’s views.” He added that “Some are not happy that Ayatollah Khomeini barred the military from interfering in politics.”

Many reformist figures have condemned the interference of the Revolutionary Guards in political affairs, especially in the recent events. The Revolutionary Guards claim that they entered the scene at the behest of the police forces and that they will do what it takes to defend the regime.

Mr. Rohani also said that by attacking the views and the family of Ayatollah Khomeini some are after breaking the society into pieces and starting a guerrilla war.

Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the leader of the Revolution, has also been under severe attack by the conservative faction of the government. Hassan Khomeini has openly aligned himself with the opposition by boycotting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s inauguration. Ahmadinejad’s victory is under dispute by two of the presidential candidates who claim the elections were rigged.

The claims of fraud have caused nationwide protests which still persist. The Revolutionary Guards were instrumental in putting down protesters.

Scores of reformist figures and senior members of reformist groups such as Islamic Participation Front, Executives of Construction Party and Combatant Clerics have been incarcerated and accused of threatening national security.