Iran Daily: "Larijani, Rightists’ Final Nominee
SCC Undecided
TEHRAN, April 22--Council for Coordinating the Forces of Islamic Revolution in its latest meeting has decided to declare Leader’s Representative in the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani as the final nominee of rightists in the June 17 presidential race, an informed source said Friday.
The source, talking on condition of anonymity to IRNA, added, “The council made its decision on the basis of individual popularity, efficacy, surveys conducted among various groups and the elite as well as a general opinion poll. Larijani gained the highest score on the basis of these four considerations. Although Larijani got a lower score than Leader’s Advisor Ali Akbar Velayati in the category of general opinion poll, he was declared the final candidate of the council.“
Meanwhile, Society for Combatant Clergy (SCC)-Tehran Office said on Thursday it is uncertain about supporting the candidacy of Ali Larijani, the society’s secretary-general for Tehran announced.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of Tehran Province’s Friday prayer leaders, Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi-Kani also told reporters that the decision to support Larijani only concerns the council and has nothing to do with the SCC-Tehran Office.
Asked about SCC’s support for the candidacy of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in case he runs in the election, Mahdavi-Kani noted that the SCC has not yet decided whether to support Rafsanjani. "
Iran Daily: "Defeat of Conservatives Possible
TEHRAN, April 22--A conservative political analyst on Friday said if disputes among conservative presidential nominees were to continue, they will be defeated in the presidential race.
Speaking to IRNA, Amir Mohebbian also noted that the current situation is far from desirable.
Mohebbian, who is also a member of the editorial board of the Persian daily ’Resalat’, noted that despite efforts made by Secretary-General of the Association of Combatant Clergy Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani and Chairman of the Council for Coordinating the Forces of Islamic Revolution Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri, no bright prospects are in sight for the conservative camp.
“If the present situation were to continue, the people might get the impression that the conservative presidential aspirants do not want to withdraw in favor of a single nominee because they are power hungry. And this is very dangerous for the conservatives,“ he said.
Mohebbian warned that the credibility of conservatives could be marred and they might face serious problems in the presidential election."
Description of Selected News: "Asgharzadeh throws his hat in the ring Tehran Times Political Desk
TEHRAN (MNA) -- Solidarity Party Secretary General Ebrahim Asgharzadeh officially announced that he would be a candidate in the upcoming presidential election here on Friday.
Asgharzadeh is now the reformists’ fourth candidate along with former science minister Mostafa Moin, former Majlis speaker Mahdi Karrubi, and Vice President Mohsen Mehralizadeh.
Reformist figure mulling candidacyAyatollah Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad said here on Friday that he would announce his final decision on his candidacy in early May.
“I have not yet decided whether or not to run in the election, but political parties and groups are constantly bringing up the issue,” the reformist figure told the Mehr News Agency.
Mohaghegh Damad noted that various political and economic experts and scholars have called on him to run for president, adding that so far negotiations on his participation in the election have not reached a conclusion.
The university professor confirmed that he had recently met with the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution but denied that the meeting was related to his possible candidacy.
Moin to be IIPP standard-bearer: spokesmanThe spokesman of the Khorasan branch of the Islamic Iran Participation Party said on Friday that the IIPP had selected Mostafa Moin as its presidential candidate.
Nasser Amoli told the Mehr News Agency correspondent in Mashhad that there would probably be a run-off this year, adding that in the second round of the election the IIPP would obviously negotiate with members of the Association of Combatant Clerics, whose secretary general, Mahdi Karrubi, is also its presidential candidate.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Amoli expressed the view that the conservatives would probably reach a consensus on the candidacy of former police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
Big jobs can only be done by big governments: Tavakoli
Presidential candidate Ahmad Tavakoli said in Kermanshah on Thursday that he aims to create a healthy, industrious, and economical government.
Tavakoli noted that the future government should serve the people rather than a particular group, adding that big jobs can only be carried out by big and powerful governments.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the MP said that he would only withdraw from the election in favor of the people’s preferred candidate.
Public participation essential for development: Tehran mayorTehran Mayor Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad said in Zanjan on Thursday that a strong relationship between the people and the country’s officials would help to create a powerful and honorable Iran.
The presidential candidate noted that the youth are the country’s main source for progress and development, adding that the Iranian youth are the best in the world in regard to honesty, virtue, faithfulness, and national and religious zeal.
He said that the people should play key roles in the economic, cultural, and political spheres, adding that public participation would lead to national development."
Asgharzadeh throws his hat in the ring: "Asgharzadeh throws his hat in the ring
TEHRAN, April 22 (MNA) -- Solidarity Party Secretary General Ebrahim Asgharzadeh officially announced that he would be a candidate in the upcoming presidential election here on Friday.
Asgharzadeh is now the reformists’ fourth candidate along with former science minister Mostafa Moin, former Majlis speaker Mahdi Karrubi, and Vice President Mohsen Mehralizadeh.
Reformist figure mulling candidacy
Ayatollah Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad said here on Friday that he would announce his final decision on his candidacy in early May.
“I have not yet decided whether or not to run in the election, but political parties and groups are constantly bringing up the issue,” the reformist figure told the Mehr News Agency.
Mohaghegh Damad noted that various political and economic experts and scholars have called on him to run for president, adding that so far negotiations on his participation in the election have not reached a conclusion.
The university professor confirmed that he had recently met with the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution but denied that the meeting was related to his possible candidacy.
Moin to be IIPP standard-bearer: spokesman
The spokesman of the Khorasan branch of the Islamic Iran Participation Party said on Friday that the IIPP had selected Mostafa Moin as its presidential candidate.
Nasser Amoli told the Mehr News Agency correspondent in Mashhad that there would probably be a run-off this year, adding that in the second round of the election the IIPP would obviously negotiate with members of the Association of Combatant Clerics, whose secretary general, Mahdi Karrubi, is also its presidential candidate.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Amoli expressed the view that the conservatives would probably reach a consensus on the candidacy of former police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
Big jobs can only be done by big governments: Tavakoli
Presidential candidate Ahmad Tavakoli said in Kermanshah on Thursday that he aims to create a healthy, industrious, and economical government.
Tavakoli noted that the future government should serve the people rather than a particular group, adding that big jobs can only be carried out by big and powerful governments.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the MP said that he would only withdraw from the election in favor of the people’s preferred candidate.
Public participation essential for development: Tehran mayor
Tehran Mayor Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad said in Zanjan on Thursday that a strong relationship between the people and the country’s officials would help to create a powerful and honorable Iran.
The presidential candidate noted that the youth are the country’s main source for progress and development, adding that the Iranian youth are the best in the world in regard to honesty, virtue, faithfulness, and national and religious zeal.
He said that the people should play key roles in the economic, cultural, and political spheres, adding that public participation would lead to national development. "
Iran News - Iran's EC chairman inclined to run for president: "Iran's EC chairman inclined to run for president
Monday, April 18, 2005 - ©2005 IranMania.com
LONDON, April 18 (IranMania) - Chairman of State Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Sunday if he were to run for presidency, he will present new plans in line with the prevailing circumstances.
In a meeting with members of the boards of trustees and students’ Islamic associations as well as graduates of medical universities, Rafsanjani said, “As more time passes by, I feel more responsibility to run for presidency, Iran Daily reported.
However, there is still time for me to decide.“
He went on to emphasize that maximum participation of the people in the presidential race and national unity are crucial at this sensitive juncture.
“If we do not maintain our solidarity, enemies will find the pretext to create an unwanted situation and create trouble for the nation,“ he said.
The SEC chief noted that sociopolitical and economic conditions have changed and people have more important demands, the fulfillment of which are possible because of the existing capabilities and potentials.
Rafsanjani underlined that the youth must be empowered to express their views in a free manner.
“Of course, the youth must be careful that they are not used as tools,“ he said.
Rafsanjani warned about the plots of world powers which, under the guise of establishing democracy in the Middle East, can do everything possible to fulfill their brand of objectives."
