Iran Presidential Campaign 2005

Xinhua - English

2005-07-02T01:53:00.000-03:00

Xinhua - English: "Ahmadinejad plays class, religion cards to win Iran's presidential election

www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-01 08:43:15
TEHRAN, July 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The shock raised by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's unexpected triumph in the presidential election has faded away, and local analysts, who have soon recovered from the stun, have begun probing into the reasoning cause of the dark horse's success.

Ahmadinejad has excellently played the "class card" and "religion card" since the country is seeing increasingly wider gap between the rich and the poor, said the analysts.

The run-off between humble-looking Ahmadinejad and his alleged wealthy rival, former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has been viewed by analysts as a contest between different social classes they represent.

Before the run-off voting on June 24, public opinion polls all pointed favorably to Rafsanjani, who had been the front runner of the race for months.

Rafsanjani was hailed due to his pragmatic minds in both domestic and diplomatic affairs and newly adopted open attitude toward the youth.

The former president was generally supported by the middle and upper classes, which could be vaguely classified into the congregation of "rich people" according to the sociological paradigm of Iran.

The rich people, having obtained freedom from worries over bread and shelter, are looking forward to the freedom in social meaning. They backed the rumor-riddled Rafsanjani just because they disagreed with Ahmadinejad to a greater extent.

However, a large number of the rich, deeply dissatisfied with the current situation, refused to vote in the two rounds of elections, which weakened Rafsanjani and other reformist candidates.

On the other hand, Ahmadinejad is warmly loved by the country'spoor people, who account for a much greater part of Iran's population and were convinced of the claim that the humble-lookingblacksmith's son could lead them to a better life.

Moreover, Ahmadinejad promised to reallocate the huge profit ofoil in the campaign, which many people said will benefit just someinterest groups for now.

He termed the move as his first battle to promote social justice. Such a pledge has been proven to be more attractive than the empty slogan of "social justice" shouted by other conservativecandidates.

The poor, especially those in remote countryside, had few chances to show their appreciation of Ahmadinejad in various polls,but they had ballots. This is an important factor ignored before but discovered after the election by many analysts and predictors.

Ahmadinejad's another hunk share of votes came from loyal religious people, who have already been extremely intolerant of the loosening of some religious restrictions upon people's life bythe outgoing reformist President Mohammad Khatami during the past eight years.

The conservative religious Iranians expect a hardliner to drag the country's atmosphere back to the fundamentalist stage. Ahmadinejad's ultra-conservative image built up during his term ofoffice as Tehran mayor and his slogan of defending the Islamic laws and morals during the campaign made him popular among the conservatives and favored by top mullahs in the country.

The victory of Ahmadinejad indeed revealed a fact that the ultra-conservative politics still enjoy a considerable market in the Islamic Republic, which analysts said should not be ignored inthe future.

The successful play of class card and religion card at a critical juncture of time has brought an unknown mayor to the postof president.

It has provoked the contemplations on Iran's true situation andthe Iranian people's real want, a more vivid picture veiled from the world by inaccurate and inadequate presentation of media.

However, the president-elect cannot rely on these two cards after his assumption of power because the image of pauper hero andapologist is far from enough to be a good president.

The lucky man, as local media termed, shoulders more expectations now, stressed the analysts."

Rafsanjani supports elected Iran president

2005-06-27T00:41:00.000-03:00

Rafsanjani supports elected Iran president: "Rafsanjani supports elected Iran president
TEHRAN, June 26 (UPI) -- Defeated Iranian presidential candidate Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Sunday urged Iranians to support president-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iran's nuclear program won't change (June 26, 2005) -- Iran said Sunday its nuclear program and strategy would not change with the election of new hard-line president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Foreign ... > full story

Loser in Iran will not appeal results (June 25, 2005) -- Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani blames his overwhelming loss in Iran's presidential runoff on an organized and illegal effort by the ... > full story

Hardline Tehran mayor as Iran president (June 25, 2005) -- Tehran's hardline mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defeated moderate cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani becoming Iran's president with the backing of ... > full story

Iran closes vote-critical newspapers (June 21, 2005) -- Clerics in Iran on Tuesday suspended publication of three newspapers because their editors criticized last week's presidential elections. Three ... > full story

Iran ex-president to face Tehran mayor (June 19, 2005) -- The former president of Iran is set to face off against the mayor of Tehran in a runoff presidential election next week. Working-class Mayor Mahmoud ... > full story

In a message to the people, the former Iraqi president from 1989 to 1997 said he hoped the new president will handle his responsibilities successfully and to fulfill his promises, calling on all to help Ahmadinejad "for the service of the people."

The Tehran mayor defeated the more moderate Rafsanjani in Friday's run-off.

Meanwhile, the president-elect received cables of congratulations from Arab leaders, including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Morocco's King Mohammad VI, prince of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, as well as from Kuwait's foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammad al-Sabah.

Copyright 2005 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved."

Bitter remarks close Iran runoff campaign - The Boston Globe - Boston.com - Middle East - News

2005-06-24T09:01:00.000-03:00

Bitter remarks close Iran runoff campaign - The Boston Globe - Boston.com - Middle East - News: "Bitter remarks close Iran runoff campaign
Abuse of power, vigilantism alleged in presidential race
By Karl Vick, Washington Post | June 23, 2005

TEHRAN -- Campaigning for the runoff that will decide Iran's next president ended last night in a flurry of bitter exchanges between campaigns that disagree profoundly on the direction of the theocracy.

Backers of Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the two-term former president, held a half-dozen rallies in Tehran. At one raucous event, they warned that Rafsanjani's opponent in tomorrow's election, Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, would reverse social freedoms and embolden Iran's hard-line Revolutionary Guard and militias.

Former Tehran mayor Gholam Hossein Karbaschi alleged that vigilantes in the holy city of Qom had roughed up an ayatollah who supported Rafsanjani.

''If they acted like that with clergy in Qom, what will they do to ordinary people?" Karbaschi said.

Across the street, Ahmadinejad supporters sat in respectful silence as they listened to speakers in a theater segregated by sex -- men on the ground floor, women in the balcony dressed in black chadors, a tent-like covering.

''They've got nothing to do with Islam," lawmaker Ali Khoshchehre said of Rafsanjani's supporters, who include the reformist establishment led by outgoing President Mohammad Khatami. ''They are using power and wealth to ruin the reputation of their rival. Everybody knows it's not Islamic. It's not competition, it's a kind of jealousy. They're jealous of our candidate and his popularity.

''You should look carefully around you, and know your enemy," Khoshchehre advised.

Ahmadinejad, 49, urges a return to the selfless, religious commitment of the 1979 revolution that overthrew the US-backed shah and established Iran as a republic governed by clerics, who hold the self-appointed positions that rank above the presidency.

His campaign rebroadcast yesterday on television a deft, half-hour film that showed the mayor in meetings and crowds, where he appeared to be a cheerful public servant with a common touch and a modest middle-class home.

But in an unsubtle dig at the ruling political class that includes Rafsanjani, who is a millionaire, the film opened with a tour of the home of Tehran's last mayor, lingering around the swimming pool, sauna, and marble staircases.

''What we need is justice," Ahmadinejad said in the video. ''We ask the officials now, 'Why are you residing in palaces? Why do you work in palaces?'

''They say because we are trying to keep the prestige of our country. Where did you get this? What you are saying cannot be found in Islamic sources."

Rafsanjani, 70, billed as a ''pragmatic conservative," has cast himself in the campaign as a seasoned businessman, wily negotiator, and the only figure with the stature to confront hard-line clerics holding Iran back from the changes necessary to prosper economically and renew ties with the United States.

''We should not be frozen in the past," read a Rafsanjani banner strung across a main street in the capital yesterday.

At least one opinion poll showed Rafsanjani with a narrow lead over Ahmadinejad, who surprised many analysts by qualifying for the runoff after coming in second last week.

One candidate in the first round, Mahdi Karrubi, has charged that Ahmadinejad's strong finish was engineered by some Revolutionary Guard commanders and militiamen.

At a news conference Tuesday, Karrubi joined other reformists in urging a large turnout tomorrow.

Rafsanjani campaign officials said their candidate would need a high turnout to overcome the hard-line loyalists who are all but certain to show up at the polls for Ahmadinejad."

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran gears up for tense run-off

2005-06-21T09:48:00.000-03:00

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran gears up for tense run-off: "Iran gears up for tense run-off

Friday's vote is seen as having huge implications for Iran's future
Heated campaigning is under way in Iran ahead of an unprecedented presidential election run-off on Friday.
Iranians are being urged to vote in what is shaping up to be a straight fight between reformers and hardliners.

Conservative Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came a surprise second place behind former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in last week's poll.

The reformist Interior Ministry has warned the run-off is in greater danger of being rigged than the first round.

On Monday, the Guardian Council, in charge of the election, dismissed claims of vote-rigging in last Friday's poll after carrying out a partial recount of 100 ballot boxes in four cities.

But the number of boxes recounted is just a tiny fraction of the overall total and does not include remote rural areas where fraud might be easier, correspondents say.

'Cast vote wisely'

Moderates, who last week were urging a boycott of the presidential election, have now called on people to back "pragmatic conservative" cleric Mr Rafsanjani in the run-off.

Student leader Sajjad Ghoroghi said activists were going out across the country to campaign against the unashamedly hardline Mr Ahmadinejad.

FIRST-ROUND RESULTS

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani - 21%
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - 19.5%
Mehdi Karroubi - 17.3%
Source: Iranian interior ministry

Press takes stock

"We will be fighting hard across the country to defeat him," he said, according to the Associated Press.

Reformist candidate, Mehdi Karroubi, who narrowly lost out on second place, told voters: "Don't be hopeless, cast your votes wisely for the sake of Islam, Iran and to fight backwardness and power-seeking."

And outgoing reformist President Mohammad Khatami also gave his implicit backing to Mr Rafsanjani by urging people to vote for "moderation" and against "reactionaries".

Reformers fear Mr Ahmadinejad will fill all government posts with hardliners, role back the social reform process and take a far more anti-western stance than Mr Rafsanjani.

'Touched hearts'

But analysts say Mr Ahmadinejad's campaign has won support from many of Iran's religious poor who have lost faith in Mr Rafsanjani.

"We can identify with him. His style is humble and not luxurious," stallholder Mehdi Nasrollahi was quoted by The Guardian newspaper as saying.

Does it really matter who becomes the next president when literally, he won't have any power?

Mr Ahmadinejad's team are optimistic of his chances on Friday.

"We will win the run-off," close aide Naser Qomian said. "Iranians have felt Ahmadinejad in their hearts. Iranians are fed up with Rafsanjani, who did little to improve the life of the poor."

Allegations of dirty tricks continue to surround the election, with the reformist-controlled Interior Ministry warning that it would not be able to control voting malpractice on Friday.

The ministry said that days before the first round unnamed "institutions whose job is to protect people, organised and orchestrated" the vote.

They were referring to the Islamic militia groups whose members were allegedly mobilised to support the hardliners' favourite candidate.

"They might do it again and even stronger this time... We will do our best to confront that," said Interior Ministry spokesman Jahanbakhsh Khanjani.

"Some people in order to stay in power, are ready to do anything to deviate the election," he added."

Iran News - Voters asked to help check radicalism

2005-06-21T09:44:00.000-03:00

Iran News - Voters asked to help check radicalism: "Voters asked to help check radicalism

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - ©2005 IranMania.com
LONDON, June 21 (IranMania) - Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani issued a communique and thanked the people for their massive turnout in the June 17 presidential election, urging them to show up in large numbers in the second round in order to check radicalism, according to Iran Daily.

Part of the communique read, "I thank the people who gloriously showed up at the polling stations and placed trust in me as one of the candidates of the first round " What was expected, along with the notion of public participation in the election, was correct campaign activities, which unfortunately did not happen and contaminated the election due to the organized interference of some groups. " I hereby urge related officials to immediately attend to the complaints raised so far in a fair manner and also pay heed to the complaint raised by my brother, Mehdi Karroubi, about the results of certain provinces."

Rafsanjani also said the same line of thought that blamed the late Imam Khomeini for the death of people who gave their blood for the wellbeing of the Islamic Revolution has now engaged in demagoguery and insists that its faulty ideology complies with genuine Islam.

"My electoral manifesto remains the same. My focus will be on removal of poverty from the face of the country, creating social justice, procuring sociopolitical freedoms, observance of women's rights, generating new jobs and pursuing new ways for active interaction with the outside world," he said.

Meanwhile, head of the Council for National-Religious Activists, Ezzatollah Sahabi said all groups and individuals should vote for Rafsanjani in the second round.

"Even those who boycotted the election (in the first round) should vote for Rafsanjani," he said.

In related news, Spokesman of Iranian Hezbollah Mojtaba Bigdeli said the governing atmosphere is contaminated and some wish to defame Rafsanjani in an unprecedented manner.

"Some people mistakenly claim that Rafsanjani is the enemy of the people of Iran and that his rival is immaculate. But we believe that they both are children of the Islamic Revolution. We believe that we need Rafsanjani for the country to advance further," he said."

DEBKAfile - Rafsanjani Mulls Quitting Presidential Race

2005-06-21T09:41:00.000-03:00

DEBKAfile - Rafsanjani Mulls Quitting Presidential Race: " Rafsanjani Mulls Quitting Presidential Race

DEBKAfile’s Exclusive Report from Tehran
June 21, 2005, 1:22 PM (GMT+02:00)
21 June: By Monday night, June 20, rumors were swirling around Tehran that Iran’s non-elected strongman, Ayatollah Ali Khameni had found a way of rigging the presidential election. Round one took place last Friday, June 17, and the run-off is scheduled for Friday, June 24. The favorite, former president Hashemi Rafsanjani, barely pulled ahead of a contestant who popped up out of the blue, the extremist Tehran mayor Mahmud Ahmadinez. He faces him again on Friday.

Rafsanjani, speaking of a “tarnished” election, was not alone. The Guardian Council was forced by more such accusations to allow a recount of 100 randomly selected vote boxes in between rounds.

DEBKAfile’s Iranian experts maintain that “spiritual ruler” Khameini would never have left the presidential election to chance. A special brew must have been cooked up in his bureau for a near nonentity like Ahmadinez to pick up 5.7 million votes compared with the charismatic former president Rafsanjani’s 6.1 million ballots.

Reformist candidate Dr. Mostafa Mo-In, who came in fifth, accused the all-powerful body of spending millions to mobilize hundreds of thousands of Islamic militiamen to get a hardliner president voted in. By any true standards, Mo-In should have done much better in a country where half the electorate is under 30 and pining for a better life and democratic liberties.

Another complainer was former majlis speaker Hojjat-ol Eslam Mahdi Karrubi, a reformist candidate widely expected to place second. He was blunter than Mo-In, charging a general call-up had been arranged on voting day for Revolutionary Guards officers, men and reservists who were sent to cast their ballots for the Tehran mayor. Another failed candidate, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former commander of Iran’s internal security forces, leveled a similar charge.

But none of the candidates were let into a critical secret, revealed here by DEBKAfile’s sources: Khamenei surreptitiously instructed all the religious leaders, heads of medressas, seminaries and Islamic revolutionary bodies to throw their combined weight behind Ahmadinez and not spread their votes among the other six candidates.

The message was carried by the extremist senior cleric Ayatollah Mohammaed Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, the religious authority behind the Iranian fatwa that automatically sentences political opponents of the Islamic regime to death.

The enigma remains of why the spiritual ruler picked the colorless Tehran mayor over the other conservative candidates as his favorite, when none of the field was exactly left-wing liberals? Why humiliate his longtime close friend, ally and adviser Rafsanjani?

The answer may be found in Ahmadinez’s campaign speeches. He constantly harped on such phrases as: we did not fight a revolution for the sake of democracy. We must stifle at birth every voice challenging the revolution. We must mobilize as one man to support the spiritual ruler and obey him. To those who would offer Iran to America on a silver tray, we say: We will never let this happen!

These sentiments chime closely with the advice Khamenei has been receiving from his close advisers. They have been telling him he must intensify the crackdown against internal dissenters straight after the elections. They warn that the laxness and liberal ways practiced by the outgoing president Mohammed Khatami in his eight years in office have brought the country to the verge of civil rebellion. This must be stifled before it gets out of hand.

This same inner circle - radical clerics and ambitious Revolutionary Guards commanders - is pressing for a greater share in government and important state decisions, so as to sustain the country’s advances on the development of nuclear arms and long-range missiles. Khamenei’s power as unelected spiritual ruler depends heavily on the support of these two groups.

The man they want in the presidency is the tough-minded, stern Ahmadinez. They believe they can count on him to further harden the Islamic republic’s posture on nuclear weapons and intensify its sponsorship of Islamic terrorism worldwide.

While aware that Rafsanjani also advocates an Iranian nuclear bomb and favors support for terrorist organizations, Western governments believe he is pragmatic and flexible enough to appreciate that the Islamic regime requires a sensible balance of its interests. They hope therefore that, out of a stable of conservatives, he will be elected president. With him they can do business on both issues in return for generous economic incentives. Domestically too, he is expected to preserve the limited civil liberties granted by Khatami.

DEBKAfile’s Iranian experts postulate two alternative motives for Khamenei’s abrupt desertion of his ally Rafsanjani:

Either Khamenei engineered a stunning victory his old friend Rafsanjani in the second round and therefore chose a colorless contestant to run against him.

Or, Khamenei never trusted his close ally Rafsanjani’s ambitions and found a way to bring him low once and for all by encouraging him to run as favorite candidate. Above all, he fears Rafsanjani may decide to amend the Islamic constitution to limit the spiritual ruler’s authority and powers. The candidate recently remarked he was willing to let the constitution be amended to meet opposition demands.

The outcome of the run-off next Friday will indicate which of the two theories fits the facts, as well as pointing to the path the Islamic republic has chosen to follow in the next stage of its history. But if Rafsanjani decides to back down and quit the race at the last ditch, that too will betray his conviction that the spiritual ruler has stacked the chips against him and he has chosen to avoid a second humiliation."

7DAYS - Students backing Rafsanjani

2005-06-21T01:44:00.000-03:00

7DAYS - Students backing Rafsanjani: "Students backing Rafsanjani
Written by 7DAYS | Tuesday, 21 June 2005

Iran's main student group dropped its presidential election boycott yesterday and told its supporters to vote for pragmatist cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (below) to block a hardline candidate.

The Office to Consolidate Unity, had told its supporters that voting would only endorse a system controlled by hardline clerics, made a sharp u-turn after Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, linked to the hardline Revolutionary Guard and Basij religious paramilitaries, made it through to a second round run-off with Rafsanjani scheduled for Friday.

"Pro-reform students have decided to back Rafsanjani to prevent the establishment of a totalitarian system if Ahmadinejad wins the vote," student leader Sajjad Ghoroghi told Reuters."

FT.com / Middle East & Africa - Tehran's mayor has Rafsanjani on defensive

2005-06-21T01:43:00.000-03:00

FT.com / Middle East & Africa - Tehran's mayor has Rafsanjani on defensive: "Middle East & Africa

Tehran's mayor has Rafsanjani on defensive
By Gareth Smyth in Tehran
Published: June 21 2005 03:00 | Last updated: June 21 2005 03:00

Since he became mayor of Tehran two years ago, Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad has not taken a holiday. He drives an old Peugeot, prays regularly and lives a simple life.

On Friday Mr Ahmadi-Nejad, 49, takes on a leading figure of Iran's Islamic republic, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, 71, in a run-off ballot to decide the next president.

Mr Rafsanjani's camp says the choice is between a pragmatist who believes in dialogue with the west and private enterprise, and a hard-line xenophobe who dislikes foreign investment.

Mr Ahmadi-Nejad's strategy is to portray himself as a "Man of the People" - a sharp contrast to the life style Mr Rafsanjani and his family are alleged to lead. Mr Ahmadi-Nejad's supporters say he is a "fundamentalist", a man true to the egalitarianism of Iran's the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The Rafsanjani camp is taking no chances: for the election's second round, the campaign has jettisoned mixed parties and loud street music, which they used to attract younger voters but which alienated many in conservative Iran.

Mr Ahmadi-Nejad's supporters have rebutted the charge that their patron opposes the private sector, stressing Tehran council's contracts with Chinese companies for the new metro, its $200m (€243m, £133m) international loan to renovate old Tehran, and its talks with European companies on projects such as waste management.

They emphasise that Mr Ahmadi-Nejad's sober attitude to running city hall is a model for running Iran. The atmosphere is focused - and clearly Islamic. There is calligraphy on the walls and women staff wear chadors, the head-to-toe covering.

Mehdi Chamran, the council's chairman, says the mayor's main achievements are "scientific management" of the city's first development plan for 37 years and his "links with the people".

With the revolution, Mr Ahmadi-Nejad joined the Basij, an Islamic militia, and worked as an engineer in the 1980-88 war with Iraq. His administrative talents led to posts in the west and north-west until, in the late 1990s he became governor-general of the northern province of Ardabil. Like many, he was frustrated at what he saw as weakening commitment to the revolution's ideals.

In the run-up to Tehran's 2003 municipal elections, a group of fundamentalists formed Abadgaran ('Developers'), a list to challenge a council paralysed by in-fighting and corruption allegations. The poll ended a run of reformist victories in Iran. In 2004 fundamentalists nationwide took a similar approach to Abadgaran and won control of parliament after the disqualification of many reformist candidates."

The Hindu : International : Reformers rally behind Rafsanjani

2005-06-21T01:41:00.000-03:00

The Hindu : International : Reformers rally behind Rafsanjani: "

Date:21/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/06/21/stories/2005062104411600.htm

International
Reformers rally behind Rafsanjani
Atul Aneja
Electorate polarised ahead of run-off poll scheduled for Friday "Iran faces the threat of fascism if anti-reform faction gains strength"

TEHERAN: Threatened by the possibility of hardliners taking over the Presidency, Iran's reformers are rallying behind the centrist cleric Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani before Friday's run-off elections.

The first round of polling showed ultra-conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad emerging as the challenger to Mr. Rafsanjani. The two will contest the second round of elections as none out of the seven candidates could poll the mandatory 50 per cent votes necessary to avoid the run-off. Mr. Ahmadinejad, linked to the frontline Revolutionary Guard forces and religious paramilitary Basij, got 5.7 million votes, while Mr. Rafsanjani was narrowly ahead with 6.1 million.

The leading reformist party, the Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF), said people had to vote to prevent Mr. Ahmadinejad, from becoming President. "Now the country faces the danger of direct involvement by military parties," its statement said.

Another reformist party, the Islamic Revolution Mujahideen Organisation (IRMO), led by Behzad Nabavi, also declared its backing for Mr. Rafsanjani, disregarding its past differences with him. It said Iran faced the threat of fascism and cited the "orchestrated involvement of military bodies and entities ... in favour of the most radical anti-reform faction."

Meddling in poll alleged

Contrary to predictions, Mostafa Moin, the IIPF backed candidate ended up in fifth place, behind the former Speaker, Mehdi Karroubi, and Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

Elahe Koulaei, spokeswoman for Mr. Moin had earlier said Basij had tampered with the vote, while Mr. Karroubi, in an open letter sought Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's intervention after accusing "sections of the Revolutionary Guard and the Basij" of meddling with the polls.

The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) later said two Iranian reformist newspapers were banned from appearing on Monday after they published Mr. Karroubi's letter.

Mr. Qalibaf who finished fourth in the first round is also expected to announce his support for Mr. Rafsanjani — a move that is likely to see the emergence of a pro-reform front.

Reformists have been alarmed by Mr. Ahmadinejad's challenge as they see their influence within the political system receding rapidly. They have already lost their hold over Parliament in the previous election, and the unelected Guardian Council, seen as the second most powerful body after the Supreme Leader's office, has blocked several pro-reform initiatives of outgoing President Mohammad Khatami.

Fancying their chances, Mr. Ahmadinejad's supporters have also started rallying behind him. Hardline candidate Ali Larijani, a former head of state television who finished sixth in the first round, said he would support Mr. Ahmadinejad.

The Society for Islamic Revolution Sacrificers also declared its support for the former Mayor, deepening the polarisation in politics. .

© Copyright 2000 - 2005 The Hindu"

POLITICS-IRAN: Reformers Struggle to Beat Back Hardliner By Whine After They Lose

2005-06-21T00:38:00.000-03:00

POLITICS-IRAN: Reformers Struggle to Beat Back Hardliner: "POLITICS-IRAN:
Reformers Struggle to Beat Back Hardliner
Saloumeh Peyman

TEHRAN, Jun 20 (IPS) - Iran's defeated reform candidates and their backers are warning of "fascist footsteps approaching" after a hard-line choice beat them out for a place in this week's run-off presidential election.

The 4.7 million votes received by Tehran Mayor Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinedjad, about 20 percent of around 29 million votes cast Friday, has shocked many middle-class Iranians. He finished secondly only to former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is known as a supporter of the status quo.

The two will face-off in a second vote on Friday.

The defeat of Mostafa Moa'n, the leading reform candidate in the eight-man field, was an unexpected blow to his backers, who saw him running close behind Rafsanjani before polls opened Friday. IPS phoned several of Moa'n's campaigns officers after the results came in, but found all of them too disappointed to talk in length.

Esa Sahr Khiz, the reformist journalist who headed the Moa'n campaign, released a statement attributing the defeat to the "conspiracy of militia and vigilante groups". Moa'n and a second reform candidate, Mahdi Karrubi, issued separate statements to warn Iranians "fascism's footsteps can be heard".

The reformist camp is now desperately trying to bring at least 12 million votes to Rafsanjani, as the supporters of two other defeated hard-line candidates are urging their sympathizers to vote for Ahmadinedjad, whose base is a nationwide network of mosques, vigilante groups and Basij (volunteer forces) militia..

Many supporters of Karrubi, the former speaker who finished third with less than four million votes, took to downtown streets near the former U.S. embassy Saturday night to protest what they called "Basij militia and vigilantes' direct involvement in polling, (vote) rigging or vote manipulation".

In an open letter to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenie, on Saturday, Karrubi resigned his position on the State Expediency Council as a protest against what he called a "coup d'etat-like plot" for buying votes by (a) part of the revolutionary guard corps and the Basij.

Interestingly, Rafsanjani endorsed Karrubi's protest and warned, "an extremist reading of Islam is emerging in Iranian politics".

But one frustrated analyst and backer of current President Mohamad Khatami told Baztab.com (Persian news service) that while "Khatami received 42 million votes in two four-year terms due to his integrity, honesty and merits, the two claimants of reformism, Moa'n and Karrubi, together could not receive more than four million votes, therefore the new claimants of reform did not deserve the votes of the people."

The Rafsanjani camp is predicting a gloomy future in the event that Ahmadinedjad becomes president, for example spreading the rumour that he will segregate public parks (for men and women) and bury the remains of the soldiers killed in the eight-year war against Iraq in public places.

Some analysts believe such a strategy will succeed and will spur a vote shift toward Rafsanjani among the middle class.

"Honestly speaking, although I hate Rafsanjani too, I might vote for him to ward off the danger of Ahmadinedjad's presidency. I am sure the mayor will put us under 'chador' (the full-length dark veil)," said Ziba Shirzad, 24, an electronics engineer who boycotted the first round of voting.

Friday's result was a blow to activists who urged Iranians not to vote, in hopes that such an act would accelerate the collapse of the system created after the country's 1979 Islamic revolution.

According to the interior ministry, about 63 percent of eligible voters above 15 years of age took part in the election. "To my dismay, the majority of eligible people voted -- there is no hope for democratic change in our country," Zozan M, 24, a dental secretary in the well-to-do area in the north of the capital Tehran, told IPS.

"I followed the 'No Vote' campaign advocated by unlawful opposition groups both at home and abroad, but it seems we have been defeated too," she added.

Like many people IPS spoke to for this story, Zozan did not want to give her full name.

Amir Kavian, 43, has been jailed as a prisoner of conscience during Khatami's presidency and was one of the signatories of a petition for boycotting the election. He says the high voter turnout will not prevent the inevitable.

"All of the seven candidates were unable to address the deep-rooted problems in Iranian social, economic and political spheres. In fact, I am happy that the regime will be more monolithic and as a result, headed for doom," he said in an interview.

Some analysts believe that Karrubi's supporters may again take to the streets and that there is a likelihood of street clashes between them and vigilante and militia groups.

Around midnight Saturday the militia supporting Ahmadinedjad spilled into the streets in the eastern area of Tehran to celebrate their favourite candidate's achievement of finishing a close second to Rafsanjani, a well-seasoned mullah and politician.

"If (Ahmadinedjad) becomes president, Enshaallah (God willing) the lofty ideals of the Islamic revolution will be revived and he will fight against injustice, corruption and discrimination," said Ali Reza Hussainabadi, 23, a bearded man selling Islamic CDs and cassettes opposite Tehran University.

Ahmadinedjad issued a statement thanking God and his rivals and adding, " I am not a member of any political party or institute.. I simply rely on God, the wise supreme leader, and the grassroots people and campaign for justice and removing discrimination and alleviating poverty."

Some reformists believe Ahmadinedjad is the man to put Iran on a collision course with the administration of U.S. President George W Bush. "If he becomes president, he will not only not negotiate with America but also speed up the uranium enrichment process," said political activist Ehsan K, 26.

Gholam eza Agazadeh, the president of the Iranian Nuclear Agency, openly expressed his opinion that "only Mr Rafsanjani is capable of settling the dispute over the nuclear issue".

Added Hasan Rouhani, the chief negotiator of the Iranian delegation in nuclear talks, "we cannot deny that the future president's personality will have an impact on the process of negotiation, though the whole nuclear issue is decided by the consensus of all top leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran".

Ahmad Azimi has two children, both studying in the United States. "I think if Rafsanjani is in the presidential office, he'll be able to settle the dispute over the nuclear issue and uranium enrichment. Even if any compromise is needed, he has the guts to sell it to the people and persuade the radical supreme leader," he told IPS. (END/2005)"

Recount Shows No Vote Rigging in Presidential Poll - Yahoo! News

2005-06-21T00:35:00.000-03:00

Iran rejects rigging charges in presidential poll - Yahoo! News: "Iran rejects rigging charges in presidential poll By Paul Hughes
Mon Jun 20, 5:11 PM ET

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Officials dismissed rigging allegations in Iran's presidential election on Monday, clearing the way for a run-off vote that could have a major impact on relations with the West and the future of fragile reforms.

Friday's run-off will be between the top two candidates in last week's first round -- pragmatic former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and hardline Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- and many political analysts say the result is unpredictable.

Rafsanjani, 70, bidding to regain the post he held from 1989 to 1997, rebranded himself as a liberal for the campaign, saying the time was right to open a new chapter in Iran-U.S. ties and signaling he would increase social and political freedoms.

His surprise rival Ahmadinejad, 49, who would be Iran's first non-cleric president for 24 years, ran a campaign focusing on the need to tackle poverty and has said resuming talks with Washington would not solve the Islamic Republic's ills.

Iran's hardline Guardian Council, which has the final word on election results, ordered a recount from 100 ballot boxes in four cities after reformists alleged rigging. It was a tiny fraction of tens of thousands of ballot boxes used last week.

"It has been clarified there was no discrepancy in the election results," the council said after the recount.

It said fifth-placed reformist candidate Mostafa Moin had asked for a postponement of the run-off. Third-placed reformist cleric Mehdi Karroubi had said some Ahmadinejad votes were paid for with bribes.

NEWSPAPER SHUT

A newspaper which printed Karroubi's charges in a letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was shut by the judiciary. There have been no popular protests over the results.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli described the election as "highly ... unrepresentative and certainly not responsive to what the Iranian people are looking for, which is more participation, not less; more freedoms, not less; and more democracy, not less."

The United States has accused Iran of having a secret nuclear weapons program. Tehran denies the charge, saying its nuclear program is solely for power generation, but has held negotiations with Western officials.

Addressing hardline lawmakers in parliament on Monday, Ahmadinejad criticized the present government's approach to talks with the West.

"Those who are in negotiations are frightened and don't know the people," he was quoted as saying by the ISNA students news agency. "A popular and fundamentalist government will quickly change the country's stance in favor of the nation."

Reformists, some of whom accuse state military organizations like the Basij militia of supporting Ahmadinejad, say he is part of an ultra-conservative, totalitarian plan.

"If he wins Khamenei will really rule everything," said Mohammad Reza Khatami, head of Iran's largest reform party. "We will not have free elections and opposition voices won't be tolerated," he told Reuters.

Islamic hard-liners, many of them former Revolutionary Guards members, won control of many city councils and Iran's parliament in 2003 and 2004 elections which were marred by low turnout.

Rafsanjani, alluding to "organized interference" in the vote, urged Iranians to help him defeat Ahmadinejad.

"I seek your help and ask you to be present in the second round of the election so that we can prevent all extremism," he said in a statement published in several newspapers.

RAFSANJANI BACKED BY REFORMISTS

Reformists have rallied behind Rafsanjani, viewing him as the lesser of two evils. "Although we may not agree with all Rafsanjani's programs, we have to support him," Khatami said.

The largest pro-reform student group, which boycotted last week's vote, also said it would campaign for Rafsanjani.

Many political analysts, while surprised by Ahmadinejad's strong showing in the first round, said reformists had provided no concrete evidence of vote-rigging and had underestimated the mayor's strong support among Iran's large mass of pious poor.

"Ahmadinejad sold himself as a Robin Hood -- hardworking, honest, a man of the people," said one analyst, who declined to be named. "He represents the resentment of people toward those who are doing better, driving fancy cars and so on."

Mohsen Faraji, a member of the Basiji militia that enforces social restrictions such as Islamic dress codes for women, said a win for Ahmadinejad, who outlawed billboards of English soccer star David Beckham in Tehran, would herald a new era for Iran.

"History will remember this election," said the 25-year-old. "A wave of change is coming. People want Ahmadinejad as he's one of them."

(Additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi, Edmund Blair, Amir Paivar and Christian Oliver)"

Hossein Derakhshan - Time For This one To Leave Iran

2005-06-20T14:15:00.000-03:00

Hossein Derakhshan Wrote

As for my own self, I‘ve been advised to stay in Tehran for a couple of more days. But I have to attend a conference in London on Wednesday and if I can‘t get there by then, it‘ll be a huge risk staying in Iran.

Mon, Jun 20, 2005 Permalink Comments [2] Hossein Derakhshan

Maybe I am reading too much into this but Hossein Derakhshan’s Post on Iran Scan bothers me. I often disagree with Hossein Derakhshan but I respect him. I hope that my dear friends in Iran will do everything to make his trip a pleasant one and to allow him to leave for his conference in London. There are many of us myself included who would be very disappointed if anything unfortunate were to happen to Hossein Derakhshan.
Best wishes,
Barry O’Connell

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Iran poll challenger accused of ballot fraud

2005-06-20T09:55:00.000-03:00

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Iran poll challenger accused of ballot fraud: "Iran poll challenger accused of ballot fraud

Dispute over conservative who won place in run-off vote

Robert Tait in Tehran
Monday June 20, 2005
The Guardian
Iran's presidential election was thrown into uncharted territory yesterday after a hardline candidate who unexpectedly won his way into a run-off vote was accused of ballot-rigging.
The allegations against the ultra-conservative mayor of Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, 49, came not only from losing candidates in Friday's first round, but also from aides to the frontrunner, the pragmatic cleric and former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Mr Rafsanjani's suspicions have intensified the controversy surrounding Mr Ahmadinejad's surprise showing. He confounded pollsters to capture nearly 20% of the vote. Mr Rafsanjani polled 21%. The mayor, a former revolutionary guard commander, wants to reinforce Iran's strict Islamic code.

Mr Rafsanjani's aides say Mr Ahmadinejad may have stuffed ballot boxes, bought votes and used improper influence on the guardian council, the religious watchdog overseeing the election.
"We are suspicious. We feel that he was not so popular as to gain this number of votes," said Amir Mohseni, deputy head of Mr Rafsanjani's campaign in Tehran.

"We are trying to build up evidence. We are interviewing voters and trying to get information from official sources, such as the guardian council and the interior ministry. Under the law, we are able to present complaints against the procedure of the election and we are going to take that opportunity."

Mr Rafsanjani's campaign managers fear that such abuses - if true - may be repeated in this Friday's run-off. The campaign's complaints bolster those of Mehdi Karroubi, a moderate cleric who finished third, and the leading reformist, Mostafa Moin, who came fifth after a campaign in which many of his supporters were attacked and beaten by religious vigilantes.

Analysts also expressed deep scepticism. "I cannot believe that Ahmadinejad won 5.7m votes," one commentator said. "I think he got one million extra votes from somewhere. I have serious doubts about these results."

Mr Karroubi, who had seemed poised during Saturday's count to finish second after a populist promise to pay every Iranian £30 to alleviate poverty, said: "Money has changed hands.

"I see this election as being rigged. Some people affiliated to the revolutionary guards and some others exercise influence over the guardian council. I want them to sue me, so I would be able to expose their names in my defence."

Mr Moin's Islamic Iran Participation Front accused the guardian council of funding an £8m campaign to mobilise 300,000 Islamic militias to ensure a hardliner's success.

"Take seriously the danger of fascism," Mr Moin said. "Such creeping and complex attempts will eventually lead to militarism, authoritarianism as well as social and political suffocation in the country."

Critics pointed to other irregularities, including Mr Ahmadinejad's announcement on Saturday that he would be in the run-off, hours before official results were issued. Mr Ahmadinejad dismissed the claims. "I would expect a respected cleric to be more tolerant and accurate," he said of Mr Karroubi.

The interior ministry said 62% of Iran's 47 million voters had taken part in the poll. There were 1.2m spoiled ballots - a high number that may reflect widespread disenchantment with the Islamic system in a country where public-sector employees are obliged to vote and get an electoral stamp in their identity booklets.

Mr Ahmadinejad's young supporters in the Basij, the hardcore of volunteers which enforces Iran's Islamic dress code and separation of the sexes, celebrated into the early hours yesterday, chanting slogans in the same Tehran parks where secular Iranians staged eve-of-poll parties.

Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, said yesterday during her tour of the Middle East that the election was not a serious step towards democracy: "Any election in which thousands of people are disqualified by fiat, and in which women are disqualified as a class, barely deserves to be given that title, particularly in a place that several years ago seemed to be moving in a different direction.""

Iran DailyArmenians, Christians, Tribal People and Sunni Voted in large Numbers

2005-06-20T01:05:00.000-03:00

Iran Daily: "Rafsanjani, Moin Better Placed

Ahmadinejad Leading Rightist Vote
Heavy Turnout Belies Predictions
Second Round Imminent
TEHRAN, June 17--Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Friday a vote for any of the candidates of the ninth presidential election is a vote for the Islamic system, as widespread and heavy voting belied predictions that voter turnout will not exceed 50 percent.
Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at Imam Khomeini Mosque in northern Tehran, the leader said, "When we come to the polling stations to cast our votes according to the constitutions, it means that we are voting for the Islamic system."
The leader hoped that the next president would be able to solve the problems of the country and meet its requirements.
Referring to the mischievous moves of some western states to prevent Iranians from voting, Ayatollah Khamenei said such measures have nothing to do with the concept of Western democracy.
Preliminary reports of the voters' choice reveal that Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was the top choice for president and Mostafa Moin ranked second. Among the rightist candidates, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has a better position compared to his rightist rivals.
In East Asia and in countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, North Korea, South Korea and Japan, the following has been reported so far:
Moin tops the list with 575 votes while Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Ali Larijani, Mehdi Karroubi and Mohsen Mehralizadeh followed with 492, 117, 90, 73, 42 and 23 votes respectively.
Although voters in the tribal belt surprisingly showed their enthusiasm for Moin, the breakdown of votes in different cities is expected to be diverse.
And by all indications, the presidential election will most likely enter the second round for the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic.
Also on Friday, President Mohammad Khatami said after casting his vote that the negative propaganda of dissidents has had no impact on the people's wide presence in the election.
"The level of people's participation in election is satisfactory, despite the high volume of negative propaganda preceding the election," he said.
According to IRNA's correspondent at the Interior Ministry's Election Headquarters, President Khatami told Iranian and foreign reporters, "Those whose hearts beat for the grandeur and prosperity of Iran agree that the path toward grassroots democracy is lengthy and the process toward that end is gradual."
The president noted that in moving from a despotic, dependent society to an open, democratic one relying on religious and cultural norms, some people do not find the resulting developments to their liking and boycott the election, "which is their democratic right".
"I hope the dynamic presence of all eligible men and women voters in this election would ease the tough path toward institutionalizing democracy in this country, that is the fruit of the Islamic Revolution," he said.
Asked by a foreign reporter whether the outcome of this election would help promote democracy in Iran, Khatami said, "Elections are essentially the manifestations of democracy and I hope this one, too, would strengthen the foundations of democracy here."
He expressed hope that as in previous elections, the president would be elected during the first round of election.
Meanwhile, Zoroastrians of Yazd also joined hands with their compatriots to participate in the ballot exercise.
Khosrow Khosrawi told IRNA that voting is the duty of all citizens.
"Zoroastrians consider it to be their national duty to vote. We live in complete freedom in the Islamic system and we choose our president vigilantly," he said.
Esfandiyar Pirouzmand said, "It is our duty to participate in the vital undertaking. Voting is the indisputable duty of all Iranians who love their motherland."
Ardekan Electoral Headquarters designated a special ballot box for the comfort of Zoroastrians celebrating 'Nik Banou' (literally meaning Fine Lady) rituals at Chak Chak Temple. Some 10,000 people are participating in the five-day ritual that began on Tuesday.
About 6,000 Zoroastrians live in Yazd, Ardekan and Taft.
In another development, governor of Bandar-e Turkman said a large number of Sunnis showed up at polling stations in the early hours of Friday.
Members of the Armenian minority group turned out massively to cast their votes.
Christians throughout the country, along with their Muslim compatriots, took part in the election.
The Interior Ministry earlier announced 46,786,418 people are eligible to participate.
AFP reported that Iranians living abroad trickled to voting stations on Friday amid apathy, protests and calls by exile opposition groups to boycott Iran's presidential election.
An estimated 3 million Iranians live abroad, more than one-third of them in the United States and several hundred thousand in Europe."

Iran Daily: New Coalitions Shaping for Presidential Runoff - IIPF, IRMO Support Rafsanjani

2005-06-20T00:56:00.000-03:00

Iran Daily: "New Coalitions Shaping for Presidential Runoff

IIPF, IRMO Support Rafsanjani

Ahamdinejad Backed
By Sacrificers
TEHRAN, June 19--Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF) announced Sunday it will actively enter the second round of election "against the front that relies on political-military ideology".
The reformist party which backed Mostafa Moin and lost in the first round said, "In order to prevent rightists from monopolizing all branches of power, we want forces that advocate freedom, democracy and human rights to abandon their indifference toward what has happened and react accordingly in the second round."
The IIPF also warned that a current has used all the state means and facilities to impose a particular person as the next chief executive, implicitly criticizing the support extended by military and paramilitary forces for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and backing Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the top vote-getter, in the second round.
Another reformist entity Islamic Revolution's Mujahideen Organization (IRMO) came out openly in support of Rafsanjani for the presidential runoff.
In related news, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who also lost the race in the first round, met on Sunday with Rafsanjani and is soon expected to announce his support.
A rightist body, the Society of Islamic Revolution's Sacrificers came out in support of Ahmadinejad for the second round on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Mostafa Moin, in a message to the nation on Sunday, thanked the people and the elite for extensively participating in the election.
"Formation of the front for democracy and human rights in line with increasing the capacities of the citizens and upholding the rights of political activists, groups and civil institutions and expediting democratization as well as improving national unity and security is a part of social assets. Organizing the young and intellectual forces, which voted in all humbleness, is another exigency of our times. I shall gradually attend to these issues within the framework that I have always adhered to, but what I presently refer to is another exigency," part of the message said.
Moin, also a former higher education minister, said, "Now that the result of the election has been declared, it is clear that despite all the warnings issued by the president, interior minister and political parties, a special current targeted the health of the electoral race."
He claimed that in the final days of the race, a powerful and intimidating current entered the scene for ensuring the victory of a particular candidate and eliminating other candidates.
Moin also claimed that what happened was an illegal move for depriving one candidate of his rights and increasing the chances of victory of another candidate.
In related development, Jiroft MP Ali Zadsar called on Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to present a report on the performance of individuals and groups, which misused their legal status for defaming him, to the people and the leader.
"I have spent 26 years of my life in political and electoral activities and I never witnessed such an intensive character assassination against one of the genuine sympathizers of the Islamic system. These people introduced Rafsanjani as the root cause of all the problems of the society. At any rate, it is fortunate that Rafsanjani garnered six million votes," he said.
In another development, manager of Hayyan Publishing House, Mehdi Khazali said the campaign activities of Ahmadinejad were acts of demagoguery and warned against such a trend.
He recalled that during his tenure as Tehran mayor, Ahmadinejad engaged in demagoguery to pave the way for his victory in the presidential race instead of paying attention to Tehran's urban development.
"People still remember how Tehran Municipality threw feasts. On what basis did religious groups receive financial assistance from TM? On what basis did substitute Friday prayer leaders receive money from Tehran mayor?" he asked.
Khazali stressed that Ahmadinejad spent billions of rials for his campaign activities without the approval of Tehran City Council.
Moreover, Ahmadinejad issued a communiquŽ announcing his preparedness to cooperate with other presidential candidates.
The communiquŽ urges all other candidates, except Rafsanjani, who is running against him in the second round, to support him in the second round.
Ahmadinejad also reiterated that he entered the race without being affiliated to any political party and will remain so till the end.
Furthermore, supporters of Ahmadinejad and Rafsanjani are reorganizing their campaigns for the second round on Sunday.
This is the first time the presidential election has been dragged into the second round in Iran. Campaigning can continue till Thursday and the runoff will be held on Friday."

Iran News - Tens of thousands of police to patrol Iran

2005-06-20T00:46:00.000-03:00

Iran News - Tens of thousands of police to patrol Iran: "Tens of thousands of police to patrol Iran

Friday, June 17, 2005 - ©2005 IranMania.com

LONDON, June 17 (IranMania) - Tens of thousands of Iranian security forces will be on the streets Friday to ensure the country's tight presidential election passes off smoothly, officials said.

The run-up has already been disturbed by deadly bomb attacks at the weekend in the ethnic Arab-dominated city of Ahvaz and Tehran that killed up to 10 people that authorities said were aimed at scaring people off from turning out.

Interior Minister Abdolvahed Moussavi-Lari said that there will be two police officers stationed at each of the 41,000 polling stations across Iran.

Some 20,000 members of the Iranian security forces will be on duty in the capital Tehran to ensure the safety of voters, the student ISNA agency reported.

"Altogether 20,000 police will be used from Thursday morning until Saturday morning, out of which around 10,000 will in charge of the security of 3,276 polling stations," said the head of Tehran's police force, Brigadier General Morteza Talai.

"No car is allowed to park within a 50 metre (165 feet) radius of any polling station," he added.

With campaigning banned on the day before the election, he said the police will "seriously confront any campaigning near polling stations".

He also told citizens "not to listen to rumours and advice given by those who are sitting in Los Angeles since this is just psychological pressure aimed at undermining people's participation," in a reference to anti-regime US-based satellite channels.

Outgoing President Mohammad Khatami has expressed concern there was an "organised movement" attempting to disrupt the election, the most competitive in the Islamic republic's history."

FT.com / Middle East & Africa - Rafsanjani faces hardliner in Iran vote

2005-06-20T00:37:00.000-03:00

FT.com / Middle East & Africa - Rafsanjani faces hardliner in Iran vote: "Sunday Jun 19 2005 . All times are London time.

Rafsanjani faces hardliner in Iran vote
By Gareth Smyth in Tehran
Published: June 19 2005 19:04 | Last updated: June 19 2005 19:04

Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad arrived for a press conference at the weekend speaking as if already president of Iran.

“Elections are competitions not for power, but to serve the people,” said Mr Ahmadi-Nejad, 49, Tehran's mayor since fundamentalist Islamic conservatives took city hall two years ago and a war veteran.

Mr Ahmadi-Nejad faces a run-off against Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the pragmatic former president, in Friday's second round. He took many by surprise, when he won 5.71m votes (19.48 per cent) in last Friday's election, becoming runner-up to Mr Rafsanjani on 6.15m votes (21 per cent).

Both men narrowly pipped Mehdi Karrubi, the reformist cleric, on 17.2 per cent. Trailing him were Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, former police chief, on 13.9 per cent, and Mostafa Moein, the main reformist, on 13.8 per cent.

Mr Ahmadi-Nejad overcame fears among fundamentalist conservatives that a three-way split would scupper their presidential chances. His late surge overcame both Mr Qalibaf, running as a conservative moderniser, and Ali Larijani, ex-head of state broadcasting. “While the fundamentalists failed to agree from the top on a joint candidate, a consensus emerged lower down,” said Amir Mohebian, political editor of Resalat, a conservative newspaper. “Mr Qalibaf's campaign [emphasising up-to-date management and technology] alienated core fundamentalist voters.”

The mobilisation for Mr Ahmadi-Nejad, apparently through informal circles of Revolutionary Guards, the Basij [Islamic militia] and some clerics, came in the final three days. Both Dr Moein and Mr Karrubi alleged the Basij had broken the law in backing a particular candidate.

Mr Ahmadi-Nejad was backed throughout the campaign by Abadgaran, the Tehran-based fundamentalist grouping that successfully organised victory in the capital's 2003 municipal election and then won a strong influence in the national parliament. He also reached out to ordinary Iranians bamboozled by slick electioneering and cynical about politicians' intentions.

The mayor's campaign promoted his piety and record in the 1980-88 war with Iraq.

In a country with 15 per cent inflation, 12 per cent unemployment and GDP per head of $2,000, many poorer people resent the alleged opulence of Mr Rafsanjani and his family. Mr Rafsanjani did little to convince Iranians he was offering specifics on day-to-day economic issues, speaking vaguely of economic development.

On international issues, Mr Rafsanjani's call for improved relations with the west did little to counter Iranians' suspicion about outside “interference”. “Many Iranians fear Mr Rafsanjani would compromise national interest on the nuclear issue,” said a leading reformist journalist, referring to long-running negotiations with the European Union over a nuclear programme Tehran insists is peaceful.

Mr Ahmadi-Nejad, by contrast, recently said Iran had “shown too much good-will vis-a-vis the US and Europe” and that Iranians would not accept “unprincipled decisions”. Iranian reformists on Sunday urged their supporters to rally behind Mr Rafsanjani to preventMr Ahmadi-Nejad winning the run-off, Reuters reported. "

Iran reformists back Rafsanjani - Forbes.com

2005-06-20T00:33:00.000-03:00

Iran reformists back Rafsanjani - Forbes.com: "AFX News Limited
Iran reformists back Rafsanjani
06.19.2005, 02:29 PM

TEHRAN (AFX) - Iran's reformist camp, whose candidates were knocked out in the first round of the presidential election, have called for voters to back Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in the run-off in order to block hardliner Mahmood Ahmadinejad.

A statement from the main reformist party, the Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF), said it would 'move actively against the politico-military camp in the second round to prevent a monopolisation of power' by hardliners.

'The danger which threatens the country today is that of the barracks and soldiers directly intervening in the election and the politics of the country,' it said.

'We hold the hand of all partisans of freedom, democracy and human rights,' the party said, calling on Iranians to vote and 'not to remain indifferent in today's sensitive situation,' the IIPF said.

The party's candidate, Mostafa Moin, came in fifth in Friday's election, which is now set to go into a two man run-off next Friday because none of the seven contenders scored more than 50 pct of the vote.

Rafsanjani is a pragmatic conservative, and but he has recently cast himself as a moderating force who favours closer ties with the West and fewer social restrictions. His rival will be Ahmadinejad, the new face of Iran's extreme right.

The IIPF said Iranians needed 'to prevent our country from falling into the trap of Talibanism and totalitarianism'.

Iran's other main leftist party, the Organisation of Mujahedeen of the Islamic Revolution (OMIR), also backed Rafsanjani.

'OMIR explicitly announces its support to Rafsanjani in the second round of the presidential election and calls on alert and mature Iranians to cast their votes in favour of him to prevent a reactionary dictatorship,' the group said in a statement.

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The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.

AFX News and the AFX Financial News logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited "

VOA News - Iran Reform Leader - "Ahmadinejad, would be far worse for human rights in Iran than Mr. Rafsanjani"

2005-06-20T00:31:00.000-03:00

VOA News - Iran Reform Leader Urges Support for Rafsanjani in Second Vote Round: "Iran Reform Leader Urges Support for Rafsanjani in Second Vote Round
By Gary Thomas
Tehran
19 June 2005

Iranian veiled women, walk past campaign posters of Tehran's hardline mayor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for presidential elections, at the Enqelab (Revolution) St. in Tehran
A leading reformer in Iran has called on those voters who boycotted Friday's election to vote in the runoff race. The runoff pits a moderate former president against a hard-line conservative.

Breaking his silence about the election, human rights activist Emadeddin Baghi called on reformists Sunday to, as he put it, "hold their noses" and vote for former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Mr. Baghi said those members of Iran's splintered reform movement who boycotted the election should now unite behind Mr. Rafsanjani. He said that the other candidate in Friday's runoff vote, Tehran Mayor Mahmood Ahmadinejad, would be far worse for human rights in Iran than Mr. Rafsanjani.

"We have a selection between bad and worse," he said. "So, I think that, if Hashemi [Rafsanjani] comes to power, at least we have a place to inhalation, to breathe [breathing room]."

Mr. Rafsanjani, considered a moderate, won the most votes in last Friday's election, but did not get 50 percent-plus-one of the vote, forcing a runoff. Mr. Ahmadinejad, a hardline conservative, emerged from a seven-candidate field to take second place. Hundreds of other potential candidates, mainly reformists and women, were disqualified by the Guardian Council, an unelected body of hard-line mullahs.

Mr. Baghi is a writer and activist, particularly on behalf of political prisoners. His books have been banned in Iran, and, in 2003, he was released from prison after serving three years on charges of abandoning the Islamic faith. He still has one more suspended year on his sentence that he may yet have to serve.

Mr. Baghi had refused to take a public stance about the election until now. He is breaking his silence because, he said, the gains made by democratic reformers in recent years might well disappear, if Mr. Ahmedinejad wins the presidency.

Mr. Baghi echoed the complaints of vote fraud made by third-place finisher and reform candidate Mehdi Karroubi. However, he offered no evidence to prove the assertion. The Interior Ministry has said the voting was in order.

"Fairly [democratic]," said Mr. Baghi when asked if the election was democratic.

He said the role of the Guardian Council, an unelected body of hardline clerics, marred the electoral process. He did not elaborate.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi called on President Bush to apologize for calling the Iranian election undemocratic. Mr. Kharrazi said Mr. Bush's remarks the day before the election actually spurred voter turnout, and dampened the boycott urged by some reformists."

Reformists are meeting to Discuss Baking Rafsanjani.

2005-06-20T00:27:00.000-03:00

Description of Selected News: "Statements on presidential elections

Tehran Times Political Desk
TEHRAN – The Intelligence Ministry issued a statement on Sunday criticizing presidential candidate Mahdi Karrubi for alleging that the ministry had distributed provocative opinion polls among officials on the status of candidates.

“According to the Intelligence Ministry’s latest opinion polls Karrubi had achieved a significantly higher amount of the people’s votes in the last few days leading to the election, while other candidates had clearly lost part of their public support,” the statement read. “It seems that Mr. Karrubi has failed to notice these opinion polls and unfortunately this has caused him to make a hasty judgment.”

Former Majlis speaker Mahdi Karrubi, who came in third place in the poll, protested against the result of elections on Saturday saying he would appeal to the Supreme Leader to designate a special team to restore the rights of certain candidates.

An enthusiastic Iranian nation stormed ballot boxes on Friday voting for president from among seven candidates.

Based on official figures announced on Saturday by the Election Headquarters of the Interior Ministry, Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Tehran Mayor Mahmud Ahmadinejad have taken the lead with the former in first and the latter in second place. Neither received over 50 percent of the vote and will hence meet in a runoff election on June 24.

Meanwhile, spokesman for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Masood Jazayeri noted on Sunday that people’s opinions should not be dishonored. Jazayeri said “If Mr. Karrubi objects to the process of the election there is a legal way to deal with this objection but it is not becoming for him to blame others for his failure.”

“People see various approaches and plans and give their opinion; these opinions should not be dishonored. “The gentlemen should better watch out not to embitter the people after they have experienced the sweetness of their recent move.”

Presidential candidate Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who came in fourth place in the poll, issued a statement on Sunday calling for people’s massive turnout in the second stage of polling.

“We have reached our goal, that is people’s massive participation in the poll and will remain as diligent as ever in serving the nation and Islam,” Qalibaf said in his statement.

Meanwhile, Qalibaf's spokesman Mohsen Bahrami told AFP on Sunday that "We will not be supporting Mahmud Ahmadinejad” in the runoff.

The Assembly of Researchers and Teachers of the Qom Seminary issued a statement on Sunday lauding the Iranian people for their united participation in the ninth presidential election.

The vigilant presence of the Iranian nation in the June 17 presidential poll was a strong response to the global arrogance led by the United States, the statement read.

The Islamic Assembly of Iran’s Doctors also issued a statement on Sunday saying that the Iranian nation frustrated the hopes of the foolish U.S. president by establishing a great presence beside ballot boxes.

The Iranian people demonstrated their strong will to determine the fate of the Islamic Republic and to uphold their independence, freedom and power, the statement read.

A group of political activists and figures announced their stances toward the frontrunners, Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad, in separate interviews with ISNA.

Kamaleddin Shahriyari a member of the central council of the Engineers Islamic Society said on Sunday that the EIS has not yet decided which candidate it will support in the runoff.

Political secretary of the Islamic Revolution Devotees Society also announced on Sunday that members of the IRDS are divided on supporting Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad.

“We will hold a session later on Sunday or Monday and announce our official stance on supporting one of the two candidates,” he said.

Reza Raees Karami, a central council member of the Islamic Assembly of the Medical Society said on Sunday that his group would adopt the same stance that supporters of reformist candidate Mostafa Moin would adopt.

Spokesman for the Islamic Revolution Mujahedin Organization, Mohsen Armin stated that IRMO would announce its official stance toward the issue over the next few days, while central council member of the Islamic Iran Participation Party, Elaheh Koolaee noted that a congress of supporters of Moin would be held on Monday to make a final decision about the runoff. Secretary General of the Zeynab Society, Maryam Behruzi announced that Ahmadinejad and Rafsanjani “are of no difference for us”, saying “their success in reaching the second stage of polling means a victory for the conservatives since Ahmadinejad was supported by the conservatives while great conservative movements like the Association of Combatant Clerics and the Qom Seminary Teachers supported Rafsanjani.”

Behruzi added that the Zeynad Society would announce its final decision after holding a session Monday night. Political Secretary of the Followers of the Imam and Leadership Front said that the FILF has not yet made a decision about the runoff but “is not expected to reach a consensus on supporting one of the two candidates.”

As a member of the Coordination Council of the Islamic Revolution Forces Committee, he went on to say that the CCIRFC would hold a meeting on the issue in the next two days but is also not expected to reach a clear result.

Shahindokht Dehbozorgi, a member of the central council of the Assembly of Iran’s Women Journalists, said that her group would announce its final position toward the issue by Wednesday.

Spokesman for the Majlis Solidarity and Efficiency Faction, Reza Talaii-Nik noted that although the group prefers Rafsanjani, it has not yet made an official announcement.

Mohammad Nabi Habibi, Secretary General of the Islamic Coalition Party postponed announcing the party’s official stance until the CCIRFC makes a final decision.

Meanwhile, political parties and groups which supported Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad at the first round of polling are fervently continuing campaigns in favor of their desired candidate.

Khosro Daneshju, a member of the Coalition for Development announced that a consensus would be reached among the conservatives on Ahmadinejad while spokesman for the Moderation and Development Party, Gholam Ali Dehqan voiced support for Rafsanjani.

“As president, Rafsanjani can modify the challenge of foreign policy and boost national solidarity in the internal scene,” he commented."

Bush Remarks May Have Spurred Iran Voters

2005-06-20T00:19:00.000-03:00

Bush Remarks May Have Spurred Iran Voters: "4:04 PM PDT, June 19, 2005 latimes.com : World E-mail story Print Most E-mailed

Bush Remarks May Have Spurred Iran Voters
By BRIAN MURPHY, Associated Press Writer

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's spy chief used just two words to respond to White House ridicule of last week's presidential election: "Thank you." His sarcasm was barely hidden. The backfire on Washington was more evident.

The sharp barbs from President Bush were widely seen in Iran as damaging to pro-reform groups because the comments appeared to have boosted turnout among hard-liners in Friday's election -- with the result being that an ultraconservative now is in a two-way showdown for the presidency.

"I say to Bush: `Thank you,'" quipped Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi. "He motivated people to vote in retaliation."

Bush's comments -- blasting the ruling clerics for blocking "basic requirements of democracy" -- became a lively sideshow in Iran's closest election since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. And they highlighted again the United States' often crossed-wire efforts to isolate Iran.

Bush described the election as an exercise in futility because Iran's real power rests with the non-elected Islamic clerics, who can override the president and parliament. Many agree with that description of a regime that allowed just eight presidential candidates from more than 1,000 hopefuls.

On Sunday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the election shows that the country is out of step with democratic reforms in the Middle East.

"I just don't see the Iranian elections as being a serious attempt to move Iran closer to a democratic future," she said in an interview on ABC's "This Week."

But the harder the United States pushes, even with the best of intentions, the more ground it has seems to lose among mainstream Iranians, who represent possible key allies against the Islamic establishment, say some analysts of Iranian politics.

"Unknowingly, (Bush) pushed Iranians to vote so that they can prove their loyalty to the regime -- even if they are in disagreement with it," said Hamed al-Abdullah, a political science professor at Kuwait University.

In 2002, most Iranians were indignant when Bush placed their nation in an "axis of evil" with North Korea and Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Since then, U.S.-led pressure over Iran's nuclear program has put even liberal Iranians on the defensive.

Bush's pre-election denunciations seemed to do the same. Iranian authorities claim Bush energized undecided voters to go to the polls and undercut a boycott drive led by liberal dissidents opposed to the Islamic system.

The unexpectedly strong turnout -- nearly 63 percent -- produced a true surprise in the No. 2 finish of hard-line Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, He will face the top finisher, moderate statesman Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, in a Friday runoff.

Rafsanjani, Iran's president in 1989-1997, has said he is open to greater dialogue with the United States.

But Ahmadinejad offered no such opening after the vote was tallied Saturday, and he could take a harsher stance toward the United States and its concerns -- especially accusations that Iran is secretly seeking nuclear arms. Iran denies the charges and puts them down to U.S. anger with the clerical regime.

"You only have to look at the comments" by Bush to understand that he "seeks hostility" against Iran, Ahmadinejad said.

The conservative hard-line Iranian newspaper Kayhan wrote: "People crushed the U.S. comments and wishes under their feet."

But even many opponents of the Islamic establishment objected to Bush's tone and timing.

The president's words sounded too much like the pre-war rhetoric against Saddam, and many on-the-fence voters were shocked into action, said Abdollah Momeni, a political affairs expert at Tehran University.

"People faced a dilemma," Momeni said. "In people's minds it became a choice between voting or giving Bush an excuse to attack."

Another political commentator, Davoud Hermidas Bavand, believed the fallout from Bush's statements went beyond the election by destroying lingering hopes that Washington policy-makers finally would accept Iran's regime.

The United States broke ties with Iran after the revolution when militants seized the U.S. Embassy and held 52 hostages for 444 days.

At a news conference Sunday, Iran's foreign minister, Kamel Kharrazi, said Bush "should apologize to the people of Iran for his comments." He also extended another wry "thank you."

"Bush's statements brought out voters who didn't want to participate in the elections," Kharrazi said. "We have to thank him for this."

Across the Middle East, Bush's blast hit a fault line.

The president is trying to firm up the United States' pro-democracy credentials by encouraging gradual reforms in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.

But at the same time, the White House often is seen as having double standards with the occupation of Iraq and alleged abuses of Muslim detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

The Bush comments are an example of "the kind of American intervention" that often boomerangs in the region, said Egyptian political analyst Salama Ahmed Salama.

"Bush meant to discourage the hard-liners," he said, "but instead he mobilized their supporters."

Associated Press reporters Maamoun Youssef in Cairo, Egypt, and Diana Elias in Kuwait City contributed to this report."

Rafsanjani allies seek vote unity - "form an anti-fascist front"

2005-06-20T00:14:00.000-03:00

Rafsanjani allies seek vote unity - Breaking News - World - Breaking News: "Rafsanjani allies seek vote unity
June 20, 2005 - 5:59AM

Iranian reformists are urging their supporters to snap out of their dejection and rally behind cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to prevent his surprise hardline challenger Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from winning a presidential run-off next Friday.

"We should use our full force to defend Rafsanjani. We should form an anti-fascist front," said Hamid Reza Jalalipour, a leader of the reformist Islamic Iran Participation Front.

Another reformist party, the Islamic Revolution Mujahideen Organisation, led by Behzad Nabavi, also threw its weight behind Rafsanjani despite its differences with him.

It cited the "orchestrated involvement of military bodies and entities ... in favour of the most radical anti-reform faction" and said Iran was in peril from fascism.

Similarly, hardliners called for conservatives to close ranks behind Tehran ex-mayor Ahmadinejad, who almost overhauled elder statesman Rafsanjani in the first-round vote.

Siyasat-e-Ruz newspaper said conservatives could have won outright if they had settled on one candidate. "However, it is not too late now ... Unity must top our agenda," it said.

Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad, with about a fifth of the vote each, just pulled clear of their five rivals in a poll damned by Washington as a travesty of the democracy Iranians yearned for.

"I just don't see the Iranian elections as being a serious attempt to move Iran closer to a democratic future," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Fox News.

She criticised the legitimacy of the electoral process, in which unelected clerics barred most of the 1,000 presidential hopefuls, including all the women, from standing.

Those defects prompted some Iranian reformists, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, to boycott the poll.

"As long as they (the clerical establishment) decide for people and tell people whom to vote for by qualifying and disqualifying candidates, I will not vote," she told Reuters.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed the 63 per cent turnout as a slap to "ignorant enemy" President George W Bush.

Iranians now face a stark choice on their country's future in the first run-off election since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

A senior Rafsanjani aide urged reformists, secularists and moderate conservatives to unite behind the former president to maintain a political balance against "militarist" tendencies.

"We all can hear the footsteps of fascism," Mohammad Atrianfar said. "If we create a united front for a national coalition, we will win the Friday election."

He echoed accusations from Moin's camp that Ahmadinejad had used Basij religious militiamen to help get out the vote.

"Using a paramilitary organisation to mobilise voters is a very dangerous move," Atrianfar said.

The daily Sharq, which Atrianfar controls, said voting for Rafsanjani was the only way to stop religious hardliners from gaining a monopoly on Iran's ruling institutions.

"We can call him arrogant and criticise his preference for development over democracy," wrote columnist Mohammad Qouchani, "(but) now we clearly see that Rafsanjani is the only choice left for preserving democracy in Iran."

Though Rafsanjani does not challenge clerical rule, he is seen as a counterweight to the hardline anti-Western elite and has called for a "new chapter" in Iran-US relations.

While Rafsanjani, 70, has promised to improve ties with the West and preserve social freedoms, his 49-year-old opponent has focused on tackling poverty and maintaining Islamic values.

"My government will support the poor and the deprived," Ahmadinejad said after the first-round vote."

Ahmadinezhad, Rafsanjani, reps disagree over security chief's role

2005-06-20T00:07:00.000-03:00

Ahmadinezhad, Rafsanjani, reps disagree over security chief's role: "Media Monitor

Ahmadinezhad, Rafsanjani, reps disagree over security chief's role
Jun 19, 2005, 22:30 GMT

Excerpt from report by Iranian TV on 19 June

[In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. [Passage omitted: On Mohammad Hoseyn Mar'ashi and Kalhor representing the views of Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani and Mahmud Ahmadinezhad in Iranian presidential elections]

[Mar'ashi] You see, when discussing the president's capabilities, The president must be capable and society must recognize his capabilities. Of course, I fully agree that the people must sit in judgment and, for that reason, we will be waiting for the people's judgment on Friday [25 June, the second round of Iranian presidential elections]. God willing, we will see the outcome as well. However, this will depend on whether there is a fair contest. However, in a period during which one could not conduct any kind of campaign against a presidential candidate, five million CDs, which contain nothing but falsehood and lies, were produced and distributed. Of course, I am not saying that you [interrupted]

[Kalhor] Yes.

[Mara'shi] I really insist that the honourable information and interior ministries must [interrupted].

[Kalhor - interrupting] They must investigate this.

[Mara'shi] They must announce that in the period during which campaigns could not be conducted against His Excellency because of his candidacy [-interrupted]

[Kalhor - interrupting] Such things were done against Mr Ahmadinezhad as well. However, I am not going to go into it.

[Mara'shi] Yes, even if such things were done to Mr Ahmadinezhad they were done sporadically. Yes, you see [interrupted]

[Kalhor] So do you accept responsibility for what happened in Mr Ahmadinezhad's case?

[Mar'ashi] No, I do not. I do not accept the responsibility for it. Whoever has done this is responsible for his actions. However, you see, five million CDs which contain nothing but lies were produced. Moreover, many secret pamhplets against Mr His Excellency Hashemi[-Rafsanjani] were distributed. Many allegations were made. We can see the continuation of that sort of thing elsewhere. So they must come and talk about this. Then, the institutions which must not interfere in politics and preserve the dignity of their system must do so, then the people will be able to sit in judgment. Then we will fully accept that. But those are the two pre-conditions. The we will wait for the people's judgment on Friday and we will see what they want.

However, the crux of the matter is that the indivdual in question must be capable, competent, able and brave. At the same time, society, including societies of experts, specialists and managers must accept his seniority and his place as a high-ranking individual. You see, a person such as Dr [Hasan] Rowhani who is the secretary of the country's Supreme National Security Council is among the very few people who has been dealing with the sensitive nuclear energy dossier. He has been responsible for negotiating on Iran's behalf. Ultimately, the likes of Dr Rowhani [interrupted]

[Kalhor] He will continue to do so in the future as well.

[Mara'shi] As I said, the likes of Mr Rowhani will not agree to serve if they do not recognize the seniority of the future president.

[Kalhor] How do you know that?

[Mar'ashi] I am informed about this and that is why I am telling you this. [Passage omitted: On Mara'shi talking about the same issue by citing other examples and moving onto other issues and on Kalhor saying that he will remain friends with whoever is president]

[Kalhor] You see, the point at issue is that, today, our management really needs a revolution. I am just saying this as an individual. I mean the stagnation and sclerosis in such areas is very serious indeed. I mean one has to use words that I would not like to use in such a session. I suspect that the people think that among all the candidates, this particular candidate can do this better. My duty is this. I am saying this about His Excellency Dr Rowhani because we have known each other for a long time both before and after the revolution. He will accept this if I say that. Please permit all the people like us to do so. I am really insignificant and I am only an insignificant soldier. However, as the supreme leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamene'i] graciously said, we shall serve the likes of Mr Rowhani and whoever is president. You should not say such things about him or anyone esle for that matter. I think that His Excellency Mr Hashemi[-Rafsanjani] will do so too. We all love Iran and we shall give it all of our experience. I don't think that any of the people named or any of those whose names were not mentioned would say that if this person came to power, I will cooperate, but if another person came to power, I would not. It has really never been like that until now. It has not been like that until now. [passage omitted: On two kinds of government, old and yoiung governments]

Source: Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 2, Tehran, in Persian 1800 gmt 19 Jun 05

BBC Mon ME1 MEPol bg

Copyright 2005 BBC Monitoring Service distributed by United Press International"

IRMO (MIRO) backs Hashemi Rafsanjani in run-off election - Irna

2005-06-19T14:05:00.000-03:00

IRMO backs Hashemi Rafsanjani in run-off election - Irna: "IRMO backs Hashemi Rafsanjani in run-off election Tehran, June 19, IRNA
Iran-Election-IRMO
Islamic Revolution Mojahedin Organization (IRMO) said on Sunday that the political party will back Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in the run-off election.

IRMO said in a statement that it prefers the next president not to accept to become a 'procurement officer' or 'secretary of government organs'.

It appreciated extensive turnout in presidential election as a great victory for the nation, but, at the same time condemned orchestrated efforts of 'military organs which have nationwide networks to bring to top the most extremist anti-reform candidate'.

It hailed the process of the election in which there was diversity in terms of candidates, but, complained against illegal interference in the voting and the huge expenditure from public funds in the last few days ahead of the election day.

"What happened in the course of the election is an attempt by certain organs to turn the Islamic Republic to the Islamic Rule stripping the popular system from the republic aspect," said the statement.

The political party called on the public to vote for Hashemi Rafsanjani in the run-off election to avert domination of fascism."

On Saturday Count still had Rafsanjani and Karroubi in the lead

2005-06-19T13:47:00.000-03:00

Iran: Latest election results show Rafsanjani and Karroubi in the lead: "Payvand's Iran News ...

6/18/05
Iran: Latest election results show Rafsanjani and Karroubi in the lead
Tehran, June 18, IRNA-Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and former Majlis speaker Mehdi Karroubi are still taking the lead in the presidential race, it was announced here Saturday afternoon.

Out of a total of 26,484,370 votes counted throughout the country by 15:45 hours Saturday, Rafsanjani and Karroubi have gained the highest number of votes.

The following table shows the latest vote count announced by the elections headquarters of the Interior Ministry Saturday afternoon:

1. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani 5,474,885
2. Mehdi Karroubi 4,924,731
3. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 4,810,079
4. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf 3,766,444
5. Mostafa Moin 3,635,990
6. Ali Larijani 1,609,029
7. Mohsen Mehralizadeh 1,185,797"

World Peace Herald

2005-06-19T13:45:00.000-03:00

World Peace Herald: "Interview: Rafsanjani runoff win may bring changes to Iran
By Shinkichi Suzuki and Hind el Hallage
Special to World Peace Herald
Published June 18, 2005

CAIRO -- Iran held presidential elections on Friday, but none of the seven candidates received a majority vote. The top two vote-getters will go into a runoff on June 24. World Peace Herald interviewed Mohamed Saeed Abdul Momen, head of strategic center of Iranian studies at Ain Shams University regarding his views on the Iranian elections.

Q: The presidential race in Iran has turned out to be a very close contest. Who will win in your opinion, and Why? What is your prospect for changes in Iran after a new president is electe?

A: If Hashemi Rafsanjani wins, there will be a remarkable change in Iran's system. Because of the existence of hard rivalry between him and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the top leader, Rafsanjani who is considered to be the second strongest leader in Iran will try to gain the upper-hand over Khamenei. For example, he aims at bringing the nuclear issues under his control. In addition, he aims to rewrite the constitution with regard to journalism so that more press freedom will be allowed and a new more democratic period will begin.

Also, we can notice that Rafsanjani has skills with media. He likes to give press interviews to different mass media. In addition, he knows very well that the difficulties he faced when he was elected for the sixth term in Islamic Shura Council were caused by journalists hostile to him.

Another subject matter in his first priorities will be free commerce. Rafsanjani used to promote commercial projects and economical ideologies. He has very good relations with bazaar men and private financial establishments. He will work on freedom of commerce, try to open up Iran's economy and activate the role of Iran in international economic organizations.

Rafsanjani seeks to continue the basic structural projects that he started during his previous term as president. This means he will not limit commercial activity. That is because he realizes how wealthy other countries in the region are. He is trying to be a commercial mediator between Central Asia, India and Pakistan, as well as a mediator between Gulf countries and the West.

The relationship with the U.S. will be another focus for Rafsanjani. He emphasizes that he is the only one who can retain good relations with U.S. and keep the relationship in balance.

It was known that Iran-U.S. relations represent a big problem for Iran's foreign policies. There are some extremists who consider the U.S. to be the main reason for Iranian problems and believe there will never be a mutual good relations between the two countries.

Rafsanjani has proven his ability to deal with U.S. He was able to solve some problems in his past presidential term. He was able to get tire parts for factories and built a Coca Cola factory in Iran as a symbol for his ability to convince Iran to deal with U.S. economically.

Q: Democracy of Iran is not perfect. It is limited by Islam. A few Islamic scholars control a large majority of the population. The clergy have the right to choose candidates. What do you think about this?

A: Iran is convinced that they should practice an Islamic democracy. Its Islamic democracy is from a Shiite point of view, not its general common meaning. The Iranian system chooses only one element of many political elements of Islamic ideology. This element is "rule by the Islamic scholar." They are convinced that the Islamic scholar is the most suitable ruler to guide people. Religious science, justice, and public acceptance are the conditions by which they choose this ruling scholar.

Q: The Iranian government insists that their nuclear development is for peace. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States have stated that Iran cooperation was not enough. European countries and the entire world doubt Iran's intention now.

A: In the beginning, I would like to point out that Iranian nuclear program is not only a cultural issue but also it is related to the Iranian character and traditions. So it cannot be a matter for bargaining. For example, the nuclear issues were not used as the cards by which election candidates run with. The leader is the only one who takes care of these issues and constitutes a special scientific assembly for it.

This means that Iran talks seriously about continuing their nuclear projects. Yet, Iran is not in hurry to implement them. That is why they set up the projects in stages and adopted a "self-sufficient" strategy, wherby they do not import any nuclear materials or parts from abroad.

Bushehr nuclear power plant is no longer the basis of this project. Iran began to build more reactors in some difficult and undeveloped places that are characterized by difficult geographical terrain and near uranium fields. Iran possesses rich resources of uranium, which could be exploited commercially, Yet, Iran considers it a treasure for the nuclear projects.

Using nuclear energy to build huge economical projects proves that Iran aims for peace. Yet, the misunderstanding between Iran and the rest of the world comes from the traditions of the common Iranian character. Iranian personality believes in "El Takya" which means that person should hide his real feelings and appear to be well."

Reuters | Nobel Winner Ebadi Enemey of the Republic

2005-06-19T12:35:00.000-03:00

Reuters | Latest Financial News / Full News Coverage: "Nobel winner Ebadi says will boycott Iran election

Sun June 19, 2005 7:32 PM GMT+05:30
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, echoing U.S. criticism of the Islamic state's electoral process, said on Sunday she would boycott Friday's presidential run-off election.

"As long as they (the clerical establishment) decide for people and tell people whom to vote for by qualifying and disqualifying candidates, I will not vote," Ebadi told Reuters.

More than 1,000 people who registered to stand in Iran's June 17 presidential election were barred from running by the hardline Guardian Council supervisory body -- a panel of 12 unelected clerics and jurists.

As in the past, all women candidates were disqualified -- something which Ebadi, winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, has repeatedly criticised as unfair and unconstitutional.

None of the seven candidates who did stand on Friday secured 50 percent of the vote, forcing a run-off on June 24 between moderate cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and the ultra-conservative mayor of Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"I didn't vote on Friday and I'm not going to vote next Friday," said Ebadi, whose work as a human rights lawyer brings her into frequent conflict with Iran's religious authorities.

But she did not call on other Iranians to join her boycott and declined to forecast the result of the run-off.

"I don't want anyone to follow my decision. People are politically wise enough to decide for themselves," she said.

Turnout in Friday's first round was a respectable 63 percent of eligible voters.

U.S. President George W. Bush said last week the poll was unfair because of the prior disqualification of candidates.

His secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, kept up the criticism on Sunday. "I just don't see the Iranian elections as being a serious attempt to move Iran closer to a democratic future," she told Fox TV."

Karrubi's Great Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth

2005-06-19T12:31:00.000-03:00

News: "Home > News > World > Middle East

Rafsanjani to face hardliner in second Iran vote
By Angus McDowall in Tehran
19 June 2005
Iranians face a second-round ballot for the first time after Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, a hardliner, surged to a close second place in Friday's presidential election behind Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Mehdi Karroubi, a reformist, said the vote was rigged after being edged out by the hardliner. Both challengers made strong showings as reformist Mostafa Moin slumped to fifth place. Mr Rafsanjani, a former president and the favourite, scored 21 per cent, as Mr Ahmadi-Nejad and Mr Karroubi took 19 per cent and 17.5 per cent. Mr Moin came in at under 13 per cent. The two front-runners will face a second poll on Friday.

The promise of a monthly £30 stipend to each Iranian propelled Mr Karroubi, previously written off, into late contention. The apparently massive vote for Mr Ahmadi-Nejad, Tehran Mayor, has also come as a surprise. Analysts said his last-minute surge could be a result of late mobilisation by the Basij Islamic militia and advice given by right-leaning clerics.

"I want to find out if Karroubi will give our oil money back," said Ahmad Qasem, 71, who lives on the income from a few sheep and cows in the village of Adoran, south-west of Tehran. "It's lies of course, he can't give us any money but I'll vote because it's my duty." Mr Qasem has joined a groundswell of poor rural support for Mr Karroubi.

Mr Karroubi, from mountainous Luristan in the west, unveiled his plans for a cash stipend earlier this year, which he says would be created by saving domestic fuel consumption. Although Iran has the world's second largest oil reserves, it is a net importer of refined petrol because of low refining capacity. He has accused the hardliner of vote rigging and called for a full inquiry and said he was willing to produce evidence of a plot involving the Basij, the revolutionary guards and the Guardian Council. He said faked identity papers were distributed among Basij, allowing them to cast extra ballots.

Mr Ahmadi-Nejad was successful among urban working class voters. "He has been very successful running Tehran and has stopped corruption," said Mohammed Hossein, an airforce recruit. "I think he would do that as president too." Voters have also warmed to the humility projected by the former revolutionary guard, which is apparent in his simple and straightforward election posters.

The diminutive hardliner will again be seen as an outsider against Mr Rafsanjani, who most Tehran residents predicted would win. "Ahmadi-Nejad is also good but because of the US pressure right now we need somebody to handle the situation," said Nasser Mohammedi, a retired colonel reduced to driving cabs for his pension.

The high turnout of 62 per cent was immediately lauded by the religious establishment and reformists, who said it undermined the US's attempts to dismiss the poll.

A second presidential ballot is uncharted territory. Mr Rafsanjani could benefit from an increase in support from the left, but given the surprising nature of Friday's voting, all bets could be off. "

Telegraph | News | Rafsanjani, greying septuagenarian, positions himself as the 'new voice of Iranian youth'

2005-06-19T12:05:00.000-03:00

Telegraph | News | Rafsanjani, greying septuagenarian, positions himself as the 'new voice of Iranian youth': "Rafsanjani, greying septuagenarian, positions himself as the 'new voice of Iranian youth'
By Colin Freeman in Teheran
(Filed: 19/06/2005)

The upmarket district of Fereshteh is the only place in Teheran where the traffic jams are welcome. Every evening, the young and well-to-do of Iran, driving their smartest cars and wearing their best clothes, crawl around a mile-long circuit in the narrow side streets hoping to meet members of the opposite sex.

An Iranian woman shows public support for Mr Rafsanjani
Given that there are no nightclubs or bars, and rendezvous in public parks are often broken up by the ever-vigilant morality police, drive-by dating is the best chance young Iranian men have of meeting a girl.

Pull up alongside a girl in your imported Mazda, tell her your dad is rich - a pistachio baron, perhaps - and she might just hand over her mobile number.

The latest suitor to have gone a-wooing round Fereshteh, however, is not a love-lorn twentysomething but a grey-haired, septuagenarian cleric by the name of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was on the hunt for votes.

In one of the most audacious bids ever to capture a "youth" vote, the conservative Islamic revolutionary rebranded himself for Iran's bitterly-fought presidential election last Friday as a champion of the young, using a Western-style marketing campaign that owed more to Nike than the Koran.

Not only did the 70-year-old former president open a campaign office on Fereshteh's sunset strip, he also hired an army of hip, happening underlings to spread his message across the capital.

With half of Iran's 47 million eligible voters under the age of 25, none of the seven presidential candidates could afford to ignore their power.

Thanks to work by Mr Rafsanjani's supporters in recent weeks, his campaign stickers can be seen all over Teheran, wrapped around lamp-posts and plastered on pavements, cars and motorbikes, even adorning the headscarves of attractive young women.

Leading up to Friday's polls, crowds of young supporters held "spontaneous" rallies in his honour, and celebrated Iran's recent qualifying victory in football's World Cup by chanting his name.

Which, incidentally, is no longer "Mr Rafsanjani", "His Holiness', or "His Excellency". Instead, he now styles himself simply as "Hashemi" - his middle name, and a form of address usually reserved for intimate acquaintances.

Were Michael Howard to campaign as "Mick", cynical western youngsters would laugh him off the stump. In Iran's theocratic regime, however, the elderly, turbaned cleric hoped to make the young electorate, worried about Iran's shaky economy, with unemployment at 11 per cent and rising, and strained relations with the rest of the world, feel empowered rather than patronised.

As the election results came in yesterday, the signs were that the strategy of running on a liberal ticket, presenting himself as a steady leader in uneasy times, was working for Mr Rafsanjani.

He narrowly clinched top spot in the poll and must now contest an unprecedented two-man presidential "run-off" vote next Friday. To widespread amazement in Iran, his opponent will be the unfancied Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the mayor of Teheran and a staunch backer of the hardline religious leadership. Mr Ahmadinejad, whose success was such a shock that he had no podium from which to address his victorious campaign supporters, appeared to have won the votes of Iran's pious poor.

The man who had been expected to push Mr Rafsanjani all the way, the reformist cleric Mehdi Karroubi, claimed last night that the election had been rigged.

In contrast to Mr Rafsanjani's courting of the western media, Mr Ahmadinejad, a former fighter in the Revolutionary Guards, styled himself as a "fundamentalist'' who represents the core values of the Islamic revolution.

He campaigned against improving relations with the US, which have been badly damaged by Washington's belief that Teheran is pursuing a secret nuclear weapons programme, an accusation Iran denies. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme ruler, declared that Iran had delivered a blow to President George W Bush by voting en masse. "With your solid, collective and glorious presence, once again you defused the conspiracy of your enemy," he said in a message read out on state television yesterday.

Among the voters on whom Mr Rafsanjani will be counting in the run-off is Ali Baktiari, a 19-year-old engineering student who was converted to the "brand" after running into a trendy couple campaigning outside Hashemi's election HQ. "Normally when I go spinning around at Fereshteh I don't get many girls paying attention because I only drive an old hatchback," he said. "Then this girl came over with a male friend and gave me a campaign leaflet. Hashemi is the only one who offered an exciting campaign."

Mr Rafsanjani's adept marketing is all the more remarkable given his credentials as one of the regime's most grizzled hardliners. His pedigree stretches back to before the 1979 revolution, when he studied Islam under the future leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. He commanded Iran's armed forces during the war with Iraq, and previously served as president after Khomeini's death, between 1989 and 1997.

Critics say that his new image is little more than a cynical tactic by an unprincipled political chameleon. The man reinventing himself as everyone's favourite grand father, they point out, has previously been linked to the murders of political opponents and four years ago gave an impassioned speech in favour of Iran acquiring a nuclear bomb.

Other observers, however, say that Mr Rafsanjani is a pragmatist who believes he has the clout to break his fellow mullahs' grip on Iran and push through longoverdue modernisation. His manifesto pledges economic reform and dialogue with the US, and he has even allowed his wife to discard the hijab.

On an MTV-style campaign video, he underwent a grilling from a panel of young people about the lack of promised social reforms, something mullahs would not previously have tolerated. "Many people are unhappy with the performance of the regime...and some have even turned against the revolution," he acknowledged during the broadcast. Daringly he also conceded that friendships between unmarried young men and women could be a "good thing".

Whether Mr Rafsanjani will live up to his new image if returned to office remains to be seen. Rumour has it that during the campaign he used his influence to ensure that Iran's morality police kept a low profile around the streets of Fereshteh while his team canvassed on his behalf.

Those who bought into his message will no doubt be hoping that those police will not return."

swisspolitics.org | Rafsanjani allies seek unity for Iran run-off vote

2005-06-19T11:51:00.000-03:00

swisspolitics.org | Rafsanjani allies seek unity for Iran run-off vote: "Rafsanjani allies seek unity for Iran run-off vote

19.06.2005 - 12:13
By Paul Hughes

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian reformists urged their dejected supporters to rally behind pragmatic cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to prevent his surprise hard-line challenger Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from winning a presidential run-off.

"We should use our full force to defend Rafsanjani. We should form an anti-fascist front," said Hamid Reza Jalalipour, a leader of the reformist Islamic Iran Participation Front.

Similarly, backers of Tehran ex-mayor Ahmadinejad urged conservatives to unite in support of the man who stunned Iran by almost overhauling elder statesman Rafsanjani in Friday's first-round vote.

The hard-line Siyasat-e-Ruz newspaper said conservatives could have won outright if they had settled on one candidate. "However it is not late now and there is just one step to victory ... Unity must be at the top of our agenda," it said.

Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad, with about one fifth of the vote each, just pulled clear of their five rivals in a poll damned by Washington as a travesty of the democracy Iranians yearned for.

"I just don't see the Iranian elections as being a serious attempt to move Iran closer to a democratic future," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Fox News television in Jerusalem.

She criticized the legitimacy of the electoral process, in which unelected clerics barred most of the 1,000 presidential hopefuls, including all the women, from standing.

Those defects prompted some Iranian reformists, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, to boycott the poll.

"As long as they (the clerical establishment) decide for people and tell people whom to vote for by qualifying and disqualifying candidates, I will not vote," she told Reuters.

"IGNORANT ENEMY"

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed the 63 percent turnout as a slap to "ignorant enemy" President Bush.

Iranians now face a stark choice on their country's future in the first run-off election since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

A senior Rafsanjani aide urged reformists, secularists and moderate conservatives to unite behind the former president to maintain a political balance against "militarist" tendencies.

"We all can hear the footsteps of fascism," Mohammad Atrianfar told Reuters. "If we create a united front for a national coalition, we will win the Friday election."

He echoed accusations from Moin's camp that Ahmadinejad had used Basij religious militiamen to help get out the vote.

"Using a paramilitary organization to mobilize voters is a very dangerous move," Atrianfar said.

The daily Sharq, which Atrianfar controls, said voting for Rafsanjani was the only way to stop religious hard-liners from gaining a monopoly on Iran's ruling institutions.

"We can call him arrogant and criticize his preference for development over democracy," wrote columnist Mohammad Qouchani, but added: "Now we clearly see that Rafsanjani is the only choice left for preserving democracy in Iran."

Though Rafsanjani does not challenge clerical rule, he is seen as a counterweight to the hard-line anti-Western elite and has called for a "new chapter" in Iran-U.S. relations.

Ahmadinejad, linked to the Basij and Revolutionary Guards, has said talks with Washington will not solve Iran's ills.

Young Basijis, waving green and black flags, celebrated his success late into the night, driving pickup trucks around the Tehran parks where reformists had held wild campaign rallies.

While Rafsanjani, 70, has promised to improve ties with the West and preserve social freedoms, his 49-year-old opponent has focused on tackling poverty and maintaining Islamic values.

"My government will support the poor and the deprived," Ahmadinejad said after his first-round victory.

Their contest could reopen the social rifts in Iran exposed by the closest election since the Islamic revolution.

Third-placed reformist cleric Mehdi Karroubi's main campaign pledge was to give everyone over 18 a monthly $62 state handout.

"The result of the election proved that political parties and certain media leaders cannot understand the country's social mainstream and ... social realities," the hard-line daily Keyhan said.

(Additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi)"

Supreme Leader hails people's massive turnout in presidential polls - Irna

2005-06-18T21:40:00.000-03:00

Supreme Leader hails people's massive turnout in presidential polls - Irna: "Supreme Leader hails people's massive turnout in presidential polls Tehran, June 18, IRNA
9th Presidential Election-Supreme Leader
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Saturday thanked the Iranian nation for its "wise, strong and extensive" turnout in the 9th presidential elections held on Friday, June 17th. The Supreme Leader also called for strong presence of people in the run-off election.

Ayatollah Khamenei said in a message on Saturday that the "fresh and enthusiastic" presence of the public in the polling booths proved once again that Islamic democracy is deeply rooted among the nation and "this holy divine tree" has firmly resisted all "opposition winds."
"The glorious epic on June 17th showed once again the firm and honorable resolve of a nation which has pinned its hopes on its lofty future and has made endeavor to reconstruct its country," read the message.

Elsewhere in his message, the Supreme Leader said the strong turnout in the election foiled all enemy plots and displayed the firm will of the Muslim Iranian nation to the critics and ill-wishers.

Ayatollah Khamenei scoffed at US President George W. Bush's anti-Iran claims, saying the US president, who had himself swept to power through the financial backing of Zionist companies to safeguard their illegitimate interests, called elections in Iran as 'improper and distorted'.

Recalling the US scandalous abuse of prisoners in Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison and Guantanamo prison camp, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "This criminal of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo has raised allegations against the Islamic Republic of Iran, covered up crimes of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and denied the US government's support for the unpopular regimes both in the past and at present." The Supreme Leader also castigated the US president for his claim that his government was a supporter of democracy and an advocate of the Iranian nation.

"You, the dear nation, you, the committed and enthusiastic youth, you, the faithful men and women, through your wise and epic presence made Bush's insults backfire and showed your firm interest in the country's independence, defense of Islam and Islamic democracy." The Supreme Leader said the June 17 presidential election was primarily a vote to the Islamic Republic, to national independence, to the Constitution, to progress, justice and Islamic causes, which will guarantee the people's religion and welfare, dignity and national pride.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the true winner of the election is the Iranian nation, which was actively present on the scene despite the enemy propaganda.

The president-elect, no matter who he is, would be the president of all Iranian people and all are duty-bound to assist him in steering the country towards progress, the Supreme Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei recommended the new president to concentrate on his efforts to serve the faithful Iranian nation, especially the youth and the poor.

The Supreme Leader also called on political factions to strengthen the spirit of solidarity and participation and avoid any provocative and disheartening moves, both in action and in words.

Concluding his message, Ayatollah Khamenei thanked the religious dignitaries, academics, cultural, political and social personalities, the Islamic Republic of Iran's Broadcasting, the Guardian Council, the Interior Ministry and all the officials in charge of elections for their hard endeavors to ensure healthy and free election."

9th Presidential Election-Results - Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad to head for run-off race - Irna

2005-06-18T21:37:00.000-03:00

Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad to head for run-off race - Irna: "Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad to head for run-off race Tehran, June 18, IRNA

9th Presidential Election-Results
Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Tehran's Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took the lead in the presidential race, and will hence head for run-off race on June 24th.

Based on unofficial figures, announced by the Elections Headquarters at Interior Ministry, out of about 26,850,000 votes counted throughout the country thus far on Saturday, Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad have gained the highest number of votes.

The following table shows the latest vote count announced by the elections headquarters of the Interior Ministry Saturday afternoon:
1. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani 6,010,829
2. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 5,555,458
3. Mehdi Karroubi 5,039,431
4. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf 4,009,620
5. Mostafa Moin 3,949,240
6. Ali Larijani 1,715,190
7. Mohsen Mehralizadeh 1,269,793
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will thus run the run-off race, based on the non-official tally.

1420/2322/1412"

Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad - Vote Totals

2005-06-18T21:30:00.000-03:00

Description of Selected News: "Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad set for head-to-head run-off

Tehran Times Political Desk
TEHRAN -- Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Tehran Mayor Mahmud Ahmadinejad have taken the lead in the presidential election, but neither received over 50 percent of the vote and will hence meet in a run-off election on June 24.

Based on official figures announced on Saturday by the Election Headquarters of the Interior Ministry, with 29,317,042 votes counted throughout the country thus far, Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad are in first and second place, and 1,221,940 ballots have been declared invalid. Following is the final vote count as announced by the Election Headquarters of the Interior Ministry on Saturday evening:

1. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani 6,159,435

2. Mahmud Ahmadinejad 5,710,354

3. Mahdi Karrubi 5,066,316

4. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf 4,075,189

5. Mostafa Moin 4,054,304

6. Ali Larijani 1,740,163

7. Mohsen Mehralizadeh 1,289,323

Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad will thus face off in a run-off election, based on the official tally.

Reformist candidate Mahdi Karrubi on Saturday appealed to the Supreme Leader to designate a special team to restore the rights of certain candidates.

Karrubi said that some mysterious interventions had taken place in the process of counting the ballots. It was originally reported that Karrubi was in second place after frontrunner Rafsanjani, but now he is in third place.

Meanwhile, Elaheh Koolaee, the spokeswoman for reformist candidate Mostafa Moin, said that Basij (volunteer forces) have meddled in ballot counting, trampling on the rights of the people.

She announced that Moin's election headquarters plans to release a statement to this effect.

A member of the Central Council of the reformist Islamic Iran Participation Party told the Mehr News Agency on Saturday that the IIPP would probably not support Rafsanjani in the runoff.

Mohsen Safaii Farahani said that the final announcement on the issue would be made by IIPP Secretary General Mohammad Reza Khatami.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Tavakoli expressed his support for Ahmadinejad in a statement on Saturday, calling on the people to vote for the Tehran mayor in the second round of the presidential election. Tavakoli had earlier supported Qalibaf, who is currently in fourth place.

Tavakoli, who was a conservative candidate himself but dropped out of the race before the official registration of candidates, said that Iranians showed they want to determine their own destiny through their massive turnout in the poll.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) praised the Iranian people for their great and enthusiastic presence in the scene of the election.

The IRGC expressed hope that the next president would prioritize the lofty values of the Islamic Revolution in his plans for resolving the country’s problems.

Presidential candidate Ali Larijani also lauded the people for their epic participation in the poll.

“The June 17 presidential election demonstrated Iran’s powerful religious democracy, astonishing the world,” he said on Saturday in a letter addressed to the Iranian nation, members of his campaign headquarters, and his supporters."

Rafsanjani faces fight for power - Sunday Times - Times Online

2005-06-18T21:21:00.000-03:00

Rafsanjani faces fight for power - Sunday Times - Times Online: "The Sunday Times - World

June 19, 2005
Rafsanjani faces fight for power
Marie Colvin, Tehran
Run-off to decide Iranian election

THE former Iranian leader, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, will face the hardline mayor of Tehran this Friday in an unprecedented run-off for the presidency after failing to secure an outright victory in the first round of voting.
Rafsanjani, 70, a Machiavellian cleric with a Cheshire cat smile, won only 21% of the votes after a campaign in which he wooed the country’s youth by portraying himself as a reformist. Some 70% of Iranians are under 30 and many are chafing at the bindings of the strict Islamic regime.

Rafsanjani’s lead in the results announced yesterday was much smaller than predicted. In what has turned into the closest election since the 1979 Islamic revolution, he faces a second round run-off against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, 49, who has promised to “chop off the hands” of corrupt officials.

Ahmadinejad shocked observers by winning 19% of the votes cast on Friday. He was said to have been backed by the powerful Revolutionary Guards and the pious poor, who warmed to his anti-American rhetoric. Mehdi Karroubi, 68, a moderate cleric popular in rural areas, came third with 17.5%.

One of the greatest surprises was a poor showing by Mostafa Moin, 54, a reformer who secured just 14%. The frontrunner among liberals, he was popular with young people because of his pledge to protect the press, public and political freedoms and to release political prisoners. Members of the defeated reformist camp were expected to gather in Tehran today to plan their next move.

Analysts said Rafsanjani was likely to win the run-off as reformist voters switched to him to keep out Ahmadinejad.

Mohammad Reza-Khatami, the brother of Mohammad Khatami, the outgoing president, and a leading Moin supporter, said the Rafsanjani camp had called to ask for their backing in the second round. “With our support Ahmadinejad can be defeated,” said Rafsanjani’s aide.

Moin appeared to have been hurt by calls among his supporters for a boycott of the election. Arguing that no single candidate could make a difference under the theocratic system invented by Ayatollah Khomeini, the revolutionary leader, they demand a constitutional system where clerics do not have supreme power.

The turnout of 62% was higher than expected; hard-line leaders claimed that George W Bush, the American president, had boosted it by criticising the vote as undemocratic, angering many Iranians.

In Tehran, offices came to a standstill yesterday as workers crowded around televisions, alternately cheering and grimacing at the updated results with an excitement normally reserved for football matches.

As Rafsanjani’s predicted cakewalk began to look more like a hike across hot coals, everyone became a half-time expert. “He manipulated Iran’s youth because he knew they were the ones who didn’t remember the problems of his first two terms,” said Mohammed, a finance worker from north Tehran. “But he leant too far in that direction and lost the confidence of more conservative voters.”

Amir, a web designer, sat smoking outside his office. “It’s too hectic in there,” he said. “People are falling out. I think I’m going home.”

Asked for his predictions on the second round, he erred on the side of caution.

“In Iran you learn to expect the unexpected, especially in politics. That’s why I was dubious of Rafsanjani’s confidence from day one: in this country there’s no such thing as a sure thing.”

Rafsanjani had appeared to position himself cleverly as the reformist who least alienated the conservatives and as the conservative with whom the reformists were least unhappy.During one campaign appearance he provoked laughter among a young audience when he admitted to “doing things as a young man that I would not confess to now”.

The cleric’s attempt to assume a new guise as the cuddly and tolerant uncle of the young generation might seem to be stretching credibility but his image makeover has been at least partly successful.
In the run-up to the vote his campaign headquarters pounded to the sound of loud rock music, once banned in Iran, and young men and women bustled in and out. Groups of youths flocked at street corners and staged light-hearted commando-style raids into the stalled traffic to plaster his bumper stickers on cars.

These proclaimed him “Hashemi” in English rather than Rafsanjani — as if he were a friend with whom voters should be on first name terms. It also seemed intended to disassociate him from the worst excesses of his last period in office that ended in 1997.

Elected in August 1989, only two months after the death of Khomeini, a seismic event in the history of the Islamic republic, Rafsanjani was criticised for ignoring — if not approving — the murder of the regime’s opponents in Europe by hit squads sent from Tehran.

He was also accused of failing to provide much-needed economic reforms and presiding over widespread corruption.

During the 1980s as the powerful speaker of the Majlis, or national assembly, Rafsanjani played a pivotal role in the Iran-contra scandal, which revolved around secret arms sales to Iran to ransom US hostages held in Lebanon and to fund contra rebels fighting Nicaragua’s leftist government.

As to the future, Rafsanjani has kept his options open by remaining as ambiguous as ever in his statements. During the campaign he promised “a new form of interaction with the world” which Iranians took to mean that he would seek an opening with Washington.

“We don’t have any problems with the people and the country of the United States,” he said in an interview with Time magazine earlier this month. “It is possible to end hostilities.”

However, Rafsanjani’s condition — that the Americans must first unblock the billions in Iranian funds frozen since the Islamic revolution — looks unlikely to be met by Bush.

Crucial will be his stance over the Islamic republic’s two-year cat-and-mouse game with America and the European Union over its nuclear ambitions. Washington has accused Tehran of trying to build a nuclear bomb.

Rafsanjani has said Tehran has the right to continue with a civilian nuclear programme. But in an apparent softening of his stance, he appears to have dropped his earlier insistence that Iran had the right to nuclear weapons as long as Israel possessed them. Characteristically, he stopped short of making any concrete promises.

Additional reporting: Ali Bandari"

BBC NEWS | Programmes | From Our Own Correspondent | Iran's electoral handshake test

2005-06-18T13:40:00.000-03:00

BBC NEWS | Programmes | From Our Own Correspondent | Iran's electoral handshake test: "
Iran's electoral handshake test

By Gavin Esler
BBC, Tehran
Iranians have cast their ballots to elect a successor to reformist President Mohammad Khatami, but assessing the election race itself is not the only way of gauging the political temperature among voters.

Former President Rafsanjani has been active in politics for over 40 years

Here is a top tip for travellers to Iran: be careful how you shake hands.

I made a big social gaffe... or perhaps it was a serious political statement. I will let you decide.

I have been spending time with the man nicknamed The Shark, the former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

He is now 70 but desperate to get back his old job as president of the Islamic Republic.

It had taken three months to negotiate an hour of his time for a BBC interview, and the Rafsanjani campaign workers were keen to show me they could run an election with as much skill as any Western politician. They can.

'Figure hugging'

The Rafsanjani supporters were mostly from well-to-do Tehran families, and I was not quite sure what surprised me the most: the hairstyles of the men - stiff and sticking-up with hair gel much like 20-year-olds in Britain - or the changing fashions of the young women.

A new dress code has appeared in Tehran

In Iran what is permitted - or tolerated - in women's dress has become a way of taking the political temperature.

The old black shapeless jilbabs and black headscarves, or hijabs, were still in evidence for some - mostly older - women.

But the Rafsanjani campaign workers were dressed as if for a date with plenty of make-up, hijabs well back on the head to show flowing hair, sunglasses perched on top, and the jilbabs now shorter and elegantly tailored.

In some cases they were figure-hugging.

A couple of young women, with trousers cut fashionably to mid-calf and shirt sleeves half-way up their arm, reminded me that just a couple of years ago, religious activists carried cans of black paint to spray the arms of the supposedly un-Islamic shameless hussies of Tehran. But not today.

Things have changed.

Campaign spirit

One older woman asked where I was from. "The BBC," I said.

She looked at me, and then very politely but insistently told me that all the troubles of Iran were caused by the English, the Americans and the Israelis.

Rafsanjani supporters use slogans in English and Iranian

"Ah the English," I replied. "Well, I'm Scottish and they've been causing us trouble for years, especially on the football pitch."

There was a flicker of a laugh.

The young Rafsanjani campaign workers plied me with tea and hospitality, stuck bumper stickers on cars, put up posters, and handed out T-shirts with slogans in English - remarkably - tapping into young Iranians' anxieties about unemployment and a corrupt political system.

"Just Work," was one slogan. Another read: "No More Talk."

Bad reaction

The Rafsanjani workers then suggested I might like to see the hi-tech end of the campaign.

She jumped back as if I had slapped her

I was taken to a modern office block where a dozen young workers sent out e-mails and prepared well-produced web pages full of pictures and lively comment.

This is where I met the young woman and the handshake problem. In perfect English she asked if I would like to see the daily blog she prepares for her readers.

"I want to show you the website," she said excitedly, and told me her name. I introduced myself, held out my hand and said: "Pleased to meet you."

She jumped back as if I had slapped her.

"In the Islamic Republic," she lectured me sternly, "it is not permitted."

True, it is not permitted for a man to shake a woman's hand.

Neither of us took offence and we chatted amicably for a while, but when later I told other female students of this encounter they laughed and immediately stretched out their hands in a series of handshakes which - they informed me - was just another rebellion against the unelected mullahs who, no matter how the students may vote, really run the regime.

That, they said, has to change.

Call to action

Mass demonstrations in 1979 brought about the Islamic republic

Everywhere I went I heard that Iran is on the cusp of a potentially profound political shift.

One Iranian with top level political contacts told me it was like 1978 all over again, the year before the Islamic Revolution which toppled the Shah.

This time, from monarchists to republicans to devout Muslims, appalled at the corruption of some of their supposedly holy leaders, most of the people I met said they wanted change, and they wanted it now.

Mr Rafsanjani told me he could do business with the West if we were ready to do business with him.

With bombs going off in Tehran and on the Iraqi border during my stay, plus demonstrations, arrests, and claims of beatings by the security forces, change will be painful and, I suspect, often violent.

But Persian culture is 2,500 years old. Twenty-six years of the Islamic Republic has been a blink of the eye.

Young Iranians often now call their country Persia again, not Iran, and the future of their Persia rests with those who wished to shake my offered hand.

From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday, 18 June 2005, at 1130 BST on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times."

Title: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Presidential Biography

2005-06-18T13:24:00.000-03:00

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Presidential Candidate
Date: June 18, 2005
By Barry O'Connell
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the surprise upset candidate in the Iranian Presidential race. A small man with big ideas and a flair for the dramatic Mayor Ahmadinejad of Tehran is disregarded by everyone except for the voters of Iran. In Iranian politics Ahmadinejad is among the hyper devout. On one hand he tends to define everything in politics as directly relating to Islam. If you were to ask Ahmadinejad would agree that the first step in good government is Islam (submission to God). This does not resonate with the worldly and the left leaning reformist intellectuals who make much of the political noise in Iran politics. However submission to God as a first step to good government connects with the people of the villages and smaller towns in Iran. This is not to say that Ahmadinejad does not sometimes exhibit a flair for the dramatic that borders on pandering. When a plaque to commemorate the death of four Kurdish revolutionaries allegedly at the order of the Islamic Republic was erected in Germany Ahmadinejad erected two plaques in Tehran commemorating the Iranian victims of Iraqi chemical attacks citing Germany's role in supplying the chemical weapons. To people in the west this might seem small or pretty but it was immensely popular in Iran. With hundreds of thousands of severely wounded and scared Iraqi war veterans in Iran the questions about Germany's role in supplying the WMDs has not been properly answered

Mayor Ahmadinejad is more than just theatrics. He is widely regarded as a great mayor and was a finalist in the World Mayor 2005. Leading by example Ahmadinejad has been known to don a street sweepers uniform and take a broom to the streets. Ahmadinejad is an Engineer by training having gotten his degree from Iran University of Science & Technology) where he was a "Famous Faculty" member. He was widely respected by students and faculty alike.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad must be counted as one of the most anti-American leaders in Iranian politics. An Ahmadinejad win would if anything accellerate the Iranian Nuclear program. Additionally increased support for Hezbollah in Palestine and funding of Shia interests in Iraq would be probable. Economically Ahmadinejad can be anticipated to halt the Government trend towards privatization. Sadly there is a potential that while on one hand weakening Iran domestically he might also escalate tensions that could lead to hostilities.

Keywords: Iran , President, Runoff, Election , Ahmadinejad, Tehran
Categories: News Analysis
Opinion & Editorials
Religion

Haaretz - "I picked Ahmadinejad to slap America in the face," said Mahdi Mirmalek

2005-06-18T02:44:00.000-03:00

Haaretz - Israel News - Iran to hold first-ever run-off election in its history: "
Last update - 07:54 18/06/2005

Iran to hold first-ever run-off election in its history

By Agencies and Haaretz Service

Iran will have its first runoff presidential election in its history as a key government official says Saturday the favorite candidate Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani wouldn't win enough votes for outright victory.

With three-quarters of the votes counted from Friday's presidential contest, Rafsanjani was in a dead heat race reformist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad according to results published by The Guardian Council supervisory body, quoted by state radio.

An interior ministry official involved in the counting told The Associated Press that the vote count he had seen made it impossible for any one candidate to collect the required 50 percent plus one to win. A second round of voting would take place on June 24, he said.

After a count of 24 million votes out of the expected total of 32 million, Rafsanjani lead by a slight margin of just over one percent, with 18.37 percent of votes counted, followed by Ahmadinejad who won 17.24 percent.

Another candidate, Mahdi Karroubi, former Parliament speaker but a close ally of Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenie, won 15.22 percent of vote, dropping from a lead of 22 percent at the count of a third of cast votes.

The elections Friday gave a resounding rejection to a youth-led boycott - with lines of voters forced polling to continue four hours overtime - and revealed chinks in the conservatives' armor.

Polls hadn't been closed for more than one hour when the Interior Ministry spokesman Johanbakhsh Khanjani announced voter turnout in some provinces had exceeded 80 percent. In others it varied between 65 and 80 percent. Deputy Interior Minister Morteza Moballegh said a final result should be announced Saturday at 8 p.m. local time, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

Rafsanjani won his home province of Kerman taking 45 percent of the vote, provincial election official Rasoul Moazemi told The Associated Press.

Even Rafsanjani's son Mahdi, who has been working on the campaign, told The AP that his father couldn't get the 50 percent of the popular vote he would need to avoid a run off on June 24.

Rafsanjani, who was president between 1989 and 1997, had been the front runner throughout the campaign. "It appears that Rafsanjani can't get enough votes to win an outright victory," his son Mahdi told the AP, citing early reports from outlying areas.

There are 30 provinces in Iran and 46.7 million eligible voters, millions of them living overseas.

Votes from the heavier populated regions, like Tehran which has a population of 10.3 million, would be among the last to be tallied.

A pragmatist, Rafsanjani portrayed himself as a steady hand at the helm, able to navigate Iran through the treacherous days ahead, fraught with uncertainty over the nuclear program, relations with the United States, and neighboring Iraq.

The big question would seem to be who would be the other run-off contender: Mostafa Moin, who represents the stumbling reform movement of outgoing President Mohammad Khatami, or one of the hard-line conservative candidates, possibly Tehran's conservative mayor, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, or Khomeinei's ally, Karroubi.

The high voter turnout could work in Moin's favor, the reformist who was initially barred from contesting the election by the powerful Guardian Council of clerics. But the council was forced to reconsider after threats of a boycott.

Young vote worries establishment
The election also revealed divisions within Iran's conservative political circles. It was only in the 11th hour of the campaign that Mohsen Rezaei, one of the four hard-liners in the running, dropped out of the race to try to consolidate votes behind a single candidate. There had been considerable speculation that the conservatives would close ranks behind one candidate rather than split the vote but Rezaei's fellow hard-liners stayed in the race.

But the real worry for the establishment is the vast pool of young Iranians. More than half of Iran's 70 million people are under 25 years old, and many were voting in their first presidential elections. Their expectations for more of the openness introduced by Khatami can only grow.

"They cannot make us go backward," said 19-year-old Mohammad Reza Baradaran. "We've tasted a bit of freedom now."

Ahmadinejad is loyal to Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who bristled at remarks from U.S. President George W. Bush criticizing the elections as a ploy to keep power in the hands of the clerics.

"I picked Ahmadinejad to slap America in the face," said Mahdi Mirmalek after attending Friday prayers at Tehran University. Religious conservatives like Mirmalek are upset about the liberal trends among the country's young.

"Many Iranians sacrificed their blood to preserve the rule of Islam and not allow women appear heavily made up in public with their hair out of headscarf. Ahmadinejad is the answer," said Jamal Ataei, another member of the congregation.

Ahmadinejad has strong support among mosque-goers, who surprisingly are numbered only in the thousands in Tehran, a city of 10 million, because many Iranians prefer private prayers.

At Tehran University, the leader of Friday prayers, Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani, told worshippers that voting "strengthens the pillars of the ruling Islamic establishment." Followers then joined in with the common chant of "Death to America!"

The United States accuses Iran of using nuclear technology as a cover to develop atomic arms. Iran denies the claims and insists it aims only for electricity-producing reactors. Iran has suspended uranium-enrichment work during ongoing talks with European envoys to seek a compromise and avoid possible UN sanctions.

Iran's top security official, Hasan Rowhani, told reporters that Iran needs a "powerful and experienced" president to handle nuclear talks - an apparent plug for his ally Rafsanjani.

Iran and the United States have had no diplomatic ties since 1979 when Iranian militants stormed the U.S. Embassy and kept 52 Americans hostage for 444 days."

Xinhua - English

2005-06-18T00:49:00.000-03:00

Xinhua - English: "Voting time extended third time for Iran's presidential election

www.chinaview.cn 2005-06-17 04:20:37
TEHRAN, June 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran extended for the third time thepolling time for its presidential election, state television reported Friday.

The end of the voting had been extended from the original 7:00 p.m. (1430 GMT), to 9:00 p.m. (1630 GMT) and to 10:00 p.m. (1730 GMT) because of the massive participation of the people.

The latest extension set the closing time at 11:00 p.m. (1830 GMT).

Some 46.7 million eligible voters, or all Iranians aged 15 and above, are expected to cast their ballots in some 42,000 stations in schools, mosques and prayer halls across the country to choose asuccessor to outgoing President Mohammad Khatami, who is barred from seeking a third consecutive term."

Scotsman.com News - Opinion - Iran fiercely faithful to religious authority

2005-06-17T00:07:00.000-03:00

Scotsman.com News - Opinion - Iran fiercely faithful to religious authority: "Iran fiercely faithful to religious authority

COLIN FREEMAN
THE front page of the pro-regime Tehran Times is in no doubt about the contribution of today's Iranian presidential elections to the greater cause of freedom. A story boldly headlined "Nation teaches world about democracy" proudly relays a message from the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, denouncing the "Zionist" critics who insist the whole thing has been a sham. Unlike the United States and its allies, he says, democracy in Iran has no "overt and covert limits". Nor, he adds somewhat oddly, does it involve "demagoguery".

In any other country, one might expect the Tehran Times' letters page to be packed with protest missives tomorrow. Iran's elections, after all, have been criticised precisely because they do have glaringly overt limits. The Iranians going to the polls today have just seven candidates to choose from, a list whittled down from around 1,000 after a mass vetoing session by the all-powerful guardian council, a clerical organisation controlled by Khamenei himself. And anyone who calls himself Supreme Leader is also, presumably, on slightly shaky ground criticising demagogues.

Yet to this day, Iran's religious head can get away with such Stalinist utterances largely unchallenged. Criticising the candidates in the election is one thing. But questioning the authority or wisdom of the country's religious head remains the "red line" past which can still land ordinary Iranians in trouble.

Flawed or not, though, Iran today is proud of its elections, so much so that these days it is happy to let newspapers less cheerleading than the Tehran Times to come and watch. The official spin fed to visiting foreign journalists is that it is not the US-hating, fist-shaking, fanatical turbanocracy of yore, and to some extent it is hard not to agree. Yes, there are still the "Down with the USA" montages, the "Den of Espionage" bookshop glorifying the hostage-taking at the old US embassy and the honorary Bobby Sands Street at the back of the British Embassy. But there are also no end of western-style shops, and - crucially - plenty of internet cafés and millions of satellite TV dishes in people's homes.

True, the internet cafés sometimes flash up the message "this page is forbidden" - even The Scotsman's website. And officially, satellite TV is forbidden, in the same way as not having a TV licence is in Britain. But if Iran's mullahs were really that intolerant of outside ideas, it is unlikely that either would be allowed at all. The penalty in Saddam Hussein's Iraq for having access to either, by contrast, was six months in jail.

A similar detente has also applied to the country's political discourse during the past few years. Notwithstanding the fact that large numbers of their colleagues have been banned from standing, reform-minded presidential candidates are quite happy to openly criticise the regime, as are most ordinary people on the streets. Young middle-class Tehranis, especially, show a degree of political sophistication and knowledge virtually unheard of in neighbouring Iraq or Afghanistan, scarcely a mark of people blinded by tyranny. The choices on offer in Iran's elections may not be as free as those in Iraq last January or Afghanistan last October, but they are at least reasonably well-informed.

Despite that, the polls today are a far cry from what George Bush, the US president, has in mind in his much-vaunted programme of bringing democracy to the Middle East. Only a candidate free-for-all, and the sight of Iran's guardian council folding up the robes of power for good, would presumably satisfy that. Last night, he marked the eve of the polls by saying it "ignores the basic requirements of democracy". Yet even many reform-minded Tehranis still take offence at his constant exhortations to rise up, take to the streets and kick the mullahs. Iran's days of totalitarianism are definitely over, they say, and the more relaxed regime of today needs only step-by-step change rather than the kind of violent revolution that kicked out the shah 27 years ago.

And why, they ask, is Mr Bush always singling them out? After all, other regional powers, such as Egypt, are planning elections which will offer even less choice. Yet thanks to its status as one of Mr Bush's allies in the war on terrorism, all the Egyptian government gets is a few mild mutterings about hastening the pace of reform.

There are, of course, other reasons for Mr Bush's concerns, mainly the on-going game of nuclear hide-and-seek and double-bluff over whether or not Iran is planning to build an atom bomb. Late last month, having finally agreed to a deal with Britain, France and Germany to maintain its suspension of nuclear activities, Iran was tacitly rewarded with an invite to take part in membership talks for the World Trade Organisation, something that would do its isolated economy no end of good. Yet few western diplomats feel genuinely reassured by the Iranian promises, a gut instinct that was confirmed on Thursday when Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the reform-minded mullah who is the current front-running presidential candidate, admitted in an interview that Iran had not always reported all nuclear work as required to UN inspectors.

IF, AS is now widely predicted, Mr Rafsanjani becomes president, the nuclear issue could go one of two ways. While the bomb has always been a pet plan of his more hardline colleagues, Mr Rafsanjani's pragmatic ambition to resume relations with the West could lead to a fairly speedy resolution of the situation. Some observers go so far as to say that he has stood by and let the negotiations founder for the last couple of years so that he has a trump card to play once he gets into power. But few are willing to take his word for it that he is now only interested in nuclear power for civilian purposes. It was, after all, only four years since he made a speech rhapsodising about the need for an "Islamic bomb" to counter outside threats. With US troops now camped on Iran's eastern and western borders, that ambition is unlikely to have died.

Where Mr Rafsanjani may succeed, however, is in eroding the power of the mullahs. As a former revolutionary who fought alongside Khomeini to kick out the shah in 1979, he is scarcely the obvious man for the job: he is aged 70, clad in cleric's robes, and has an unsavoury history dotted with allegations of murdering opposition figures. But his long years as a survivor in what was once an undoubtedly brutal regime have also taught him the merits of bending with the wind, which, right now, lies in courting the youth vote.

With 50 per cent of the country's 70 million population under the age of 25, he has performed one of the most spectacular "rebranding" exercises ever, joking around with youngsters on MTV-style promo videos, hinting at youthful indiscretions and even suggesting that he might scrap the compulsory wearing of headscarves for women. Such tactics might be laughed out of court by western youngsters, but in Iran, having a bearded, elderly cleric on your side makes you feel empowered, not patronised. "We have had other candidates saying they want reform for the past seven years but not much has been achieved," says Ali, an 18-year-old Rafsanjani supporter. "But Rafsanjani has respect among the mullahs. If he says we need reform, they will listen."

But what if they don't? The talk among the educated youth of Tehran is of an Orange-style revolution à la Ukraine and Czechoslovakia. But whether that will happen remains to be seen. Toppling a regime whose leaders are simply reconditioned communists is one thing. Toppling one whose members represent the religion that every Iranian still faithfully lives and breathes is another."

Scotsman.com News - International - Rafsanjani is hot tip as Iranians go to the polls

2005-06-17T00:02:00.000-03:00

Scotsman.com News - International - Rafsanjani is hot tip as Iranians go to the polls: "Rafsanjani is hot tip as Iranians go to the polls

EDMUND BLAIR
IN TEHRAN
IRANIANS go to the polls today to elect a new president, with the moderate cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani favourite to emerge victorious from a field of seven.

However, Mr Rafsanjani, who held the post between 1989 and 1997, is unlikely to secure enough support to avert an unprecedented run-off vote.

Rival campaigners clogged the streets of the capital, Tehran, into the early hours yesterday in a final effort to win over undecided voters. All campaigning had to end 24 hours before the polling stations opened.

The vote could determine the fate of Iran's nuclear stand-off with the West and its ties with the United States, although, whoever wins, real power in the country will still rest with conservative, anti-western religious authorities.

About 300 people protested against the Islamic system in central Tehran, the semi-official ILNA news agency said, adding that some had been arrested as the demonstration was illegal.

Opinion polls indicate that Mr Rafsanjani, 70, who wants better ties with the West, will not win the 50 per cent support he needs to avoid a deciding vote with his nearest challenger, possibly next Friday.

The reformist newspaper Etemad said: "The election ... is one of the most unpredictable in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran. All pundits believe that the president will be elected in the second round."

Polls show Mr Rafsanjani's main rivals are the conservative former police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and the reformist Mostafa Moin, an education minister under the outgoing president Mohammad Khatami, who is not allowed to stand for a third four-year term. Some polls have also shown the conservative Tehran mayor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, gaining ground.

Mohammad Reza Khatami, an aide to Mr Moin said: "There is very close rivalry between Moin and Rafsanjani, and also Qalibaf is not in a bad situation."

Analysts say a victory for Mr Moin cannot be ruled out and the outcome of a run-off between Mr Rafsanjani and Mr Moin or Mr Qalibaf would be hard to predict.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, who has the last word in matters of state in Iran's hybrid theocracy, has called for a high turnout to make Iran "immune to the enemies' plots".

Abdolvahed Mousavi-Lari, the interior minister, said he expected a turnout of more than half the 47 million eligible voters, aged 15 and over.

On the streets of Tehran, Mohsen Mahmoudi, 22, was busy putting up campaign stickers early yesterday. "I came to campaign for Hashemi [Rafsanjani], to say that he has a heart of gold," he said.

Some young "campaigners" admitted they had only come out on to the streets to enjoy a rare chance to party and mingle openly with the opposite sex. Several said they would not vote in an election where most of the more than 1,000 hopefuls who registered to run were barred by the hardline Guardian Council supervisory body. Eight were originally allowed to run, but one pulled out on Wednesday.

Mr Khatami was elected by landslides in 1997 and 2001 with pledges to create a more free society, but his reforms were repeatedly blocked by hardliners."

Iran News - Techno trumps ideology to bag Iran youth vote

2005-06-16T22:56:00.000-03:00

Iran News - Techno trumps ideology to bag Iran youth vote: "Techno trumps ideology to bag Iran youth vote

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - ©2005 IranMania.com

LONDON, June 15 (IranMania) - Hardliners or reformers, the presidential candidates agree on one thing -- the importance of slick marketing to win the support of Iran's legion of young voters with a modern and surprisingly ideology-free message, according to AFP.

With pounding Iranian techno music, the Internet, and references to Iran's World Cup football success, the hopefuls in Friday's vote have been using modern techniques to tip the balance in what could be a close-run poll

The best-placed hardliner, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, has been at pains to transform himself to Dr Qalibaf, PhD in Geopolitics, from General Qalibaf, the former police chief who demanded the repression of pro-democracy protests in

His closeness to supreme leader Ali Khamenei appears to have been forgotten and instead he appears in election posters dressed in a smart suit or in his Iran Air pilot's uniform to remind voters of his part-time occupation as an aviator.

While Qalibaf's political allies were disgusted in 1997 by the behaviour of women who rushed into the streets to celebrate Iran's qualification for the World Cup, his website now shows a young woman celebrating its ticket for the Germany 2006 finals.

The sensitivity of Qalibaf's campaign team to their candidate's image shows the importance of young voters in a country where the under-30s now make up 70 percent of the population.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the 70-year-old ayatollah and former president seen as the favourite, is also making an all-out effort to grab the youth vote.

His supporters handed out photos of the cleric with Iranian football stars to supporters attending Iran's wildly celebrated win over Bahrain to qualify for the World Cup last week.

Many cars in the capital are now sporting "Hashemi 2005" stickers in Latin script that clearly mimic the "Germany 2006" motto.

He also appeared on a television discussing topic ranging from fashion to sex with young people, even confessing with a mischievous look that "I did things in my youth that I still don't dare to talk about."

The other cleric in the race -- the moderate Mehdi Karoubi -- chooses to pose on his campaign posters smiling and with his hand on his cheek in an unorthodox image for cleric.

The absence of old-style ideological rhetoric from any of the candidates is nearly as conspicuous as the presence of modern election techniques, with none of the contenders attempting to rouse the masses with ambitions to export the Islamic revolution elsewhere.

None of the 14 points in Rafsanjani's "pact with the people" manifesto refers to Islamic values. His slogan -- "Everyone to work together!" is just as woolly as Qalibaf's "Iranians deserve to live well."

The ultra-conservative candidate Mohsen Rezaie, 51, whose son fled to the United States, says that "after God, it's the youth which counts the most", promising a "joyful Iran" and even "a government of love".

Another hardline candidate, Mahmud Ahmadinejad, 49, vows that his government will be made up of "70 million ministers". Ali Larijani, a former member of the Revolutionary Guards, promises a "government of hope and pure air".

Even the hardest of the hardliners, Ahmadinejad, presents himself as "University Professor and Mayor of Tehran" rather than a one-time member of the Revolutionary Guards. "He's not military, he's a professor," one of his campaign team pointed out.

"My country, I will rebuild you" -- it is hard to guess this is the slogan of the reformist Mostafa Moin even if it is the most subversive. His website has pictures of two the hardliners' main foes: Said Hajjarian, a reformer seriously injured by an extremist in March 2000 and the former culture minister Atollah Mohajerani, briefly imprisoned in 2004.

But not everyone is impressed by their public relations efforts: "They are all liars," mutters a young woman passing by a Karoubi meeting."

People's Daily Online -- Rafsanjani shows "human side"

2005-06-16T22:48:00.000-03:00

People's Daily Online -- Rafsanjani shows "human side": "
Home >> World
UPDATED: 12:25, June 16, 2005
Rafsanjani shows "human side"

In an eagerly awaited election broadcast on Monday, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani removed his turban, had a haircut and watched a football match, hoping a view of his sensitive, human side would attract last minute voters.

The 70-year-old ayatollah, the frontrunner in an election that is appearing increasingly close, went out of his way to portray himself as an ordinary man in touch with Iran's youthful population.

He also made much of his much publicized agonizing about whether to stand in the election, saying he had finally taken the decision to stand in the vote for the sake of Iran's younger generation.

"It is cruel not to think of the future of the country. We may not be there in the future, but our children will be there, the future will be there and Iran will be there," he said in a slow and emphatic voiceover.

The film was directed by Kamal Tabrizi, best known for his smash comedy "Marmoulak" ("The Lizard").

To the sound of lachrymose Persian music, slow motion images of Rafsanjani showed him visiting industrial plants and admiring development plans, emphasising his role in moving Iran forwards.

But the half-hour video also offered an unprecedented glimpse into Rafsanjani's private side, showing him praying at home, chatting with his family and, unusually for a cleric, without his turban.

Like all politicians in the campaign, Rafsanjani could not resist jumping on the bandwagon of Iran's wildly celebrated victory over Bahrain last week which earned the country qualification for the 2006 football World Cup.

He sits, bareheaded, watching the winning goal on a television as the commentator roars with uncontrolled excitement. "It is so easy to fill people with joy, laughter is indispensable for life," comments Rafsanjani.

But the broadcast also did not shy away from Rafsanjani as the devout cleric who has been at the centre of Iranian politics since the Islamic revolution in 1979.

Browsing through a photo album in his library, Rafsanjani looks at snaps of himself with the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran's late revolutionary leader and also images of the Iran-Iraq war, and at one moment, he takes off his turban.

He also is filmed praying at home and walking into his garden as the sunlight plays around his turban.

The modest, humble side of the cleric is also emphasised as he is pictured chatting with his family in a plain-looking room.

The sophisticated video, which closed with an image of Rafsanjani strolling down a long country road with a young girl dressed in white, was a further example of the increasingly slick methods being used by candidates.

"The night is over, and there is a new day of hope rising for Iran. My doubts have gone," Rafsanjani concludes."

Rafsanjani "If he can't, none of the others can." says Tala, a 22-year-old actress

2005-06-16T22:27:00.000-03:00

Iran: Rafsanjani's New Mission: "REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK
By Stanley Reed

Iran: Rafsanjani's New Mission
The 70-year-old cleric and former President aims to regain the top post, campaigning on the theme of growth and calmer U.S. relations

At front-runner Hashemi Rafsanjani's presidential campaign headquarters in Tehran, Siavash Daryabar shows off a vast wall chart of Iran's regions, with hundreds of circles each indicating an office supporting his candidate. Rafsanjani has plenty of backers, but in Iran's increasingly uninhibited political environment, there's also plenty of opposition.

For the last few weeks, Daryabar has been churning out rebuttals to opposition attacks on Rafsanjani for everything from using his influence to enrich himself to being photographed with inappropriately dressed women. "I have never seen such smears," says one campaign veteran. The balloting is set for June 17.

PRAGMATIC POLITICO. Amazingly, Rafsanjani, who served as President from 1989 and 1997, when he was a faithful partner of the conservative mullahs, is showing enough flexibility to take the attacks in stride and even bolster his campaign. The candidate, a 70 year-old cleric, broke new ground in a televised spot on June 11 in which he submitted himself to a grilling from a group of young Iranians.

They peppered Rafsanjani with questions about why he thought he could still make a difference. They also asked whether he had ever committed any embarrassing, youthful indiscretions. His answer to the first: Seeing a changed world had given him a new sense of mission. The answer to the second, to guffaws, was that he was still too embarrassed to talk about his past peccadilloes.

Because of his willingness to engage young voters and because Iranians view him as a pragmatic political heavyweight, Rafsanjani, a one-time aide to the late Ayatollah Khomeini, leads in the polls. So far, though, he hasn't garnered the majority required for a first-round win.

BUSINESS BOOSTER. The other top vote-getters are likely to be Mohammad Baker Qalibaf, a youthful former national police chief backed by some conservatives, and Mustafa Moin, a former Minister of Higher Education, whose support includes many backers of the current President, Mohammed Khatami. If no one gains a majority, the top two candidates will be paired in a runoff a week later.

The assumption now is that Rafsanjani will probably win in a runoff. If so, the victory will vindicate Rafsanjani's campaign theme -- that only he has the experience and gravitas to cool down tense relations with the U.S. over the nuclear issue and set Iran on a path to solid economic growth.

Rafsanjani wants to cut the government's dominant role in the economy through privatization and other boosts for business. In his June 11 broadcast, he said the way to prevent desperate youths from being exploited by rapacious employers was to "bring in the private sector so that companies will be coming after you with job offers."

SPOOKED INVESTORS. Rafsanjani is appealing to Iranians' concerns that their country is falling behind in an increasingly globalized and competitive world. Iran's isolation hurts in both big and small ways. It deprives Iran's vital oil and gas industry of American investment and technology. It requires visitors to import wads of hundred-dollar notes into the country to settle hotel bills and other accounts, since Iran isn't on the international credit-card system. Iran also risks increasing political isolation, thanks to global opposition to its nuclear program and criticism of its human-rights record.

Adding to such worries, Iran's economic growth dropped below 5% for the last fiscal year ending in March, as foreign and domestic investors waited for election results before committing more capital. They were also spooked by high-profile political attacks on foreign investment, including the blocking of the award of a mobil-phone license to a Turkish company.

While 5% growth isn't bad for most countries, it isn't enough to put a dent in Iran's unemployment rate of 14%-plus. The business community hopes that Rafsanjani will repeat the achievements of his first term, when he made the first moves to energize Iran's economy, which is still suffering from lingering damage from the long war with Iraq.

DISMISSING "SMALL PEOPLE". "The next president has to be a leader who can create jobs and push everything forward," says Shahin Shayan Arani, president of Ezam Investment Company. "Rafsanjani is the most qualified person available."

That view is echoed among many young voters. "He's the only real politician with the power to make good on his promises," says Tala, a 22-year-old actress, She says she hopes Rafsanjani will end Iran's estrangement from the U.S., which now stretches back more than a quarter of a century. "If he can't, none of the others can."

And Rafsanjani's rivals for the presidency? His supporters dismiss them out of hand. "We aren't going to choose small people. There's only one person who is serious," says M.J. Asemipour, an adviser to Petroleum Minister Bijan Zanganeh.

NO IDEOLOGICAL QUALMS. Certainly, what a Rafsanjani presidency might look like is clearer than what the other candidates have to offer. He would likely try to take power back from the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who has taken on an increasingly executive role during Khatami's time in office.

That might lead to tensions, but as someone with well-burnished revolutionary credentials, Rafsanjani would have a far better chance than any of the other candidates at making an impact in areas such as foreign relations, where President Khatami has lost control. Some observers even think Rafsanjani will try to push clerics out of most government posts.

In economic matters, Rafsanjani would be expected to try to attract Western investment, and he wouldn't have any ideological qualms about cutting a deal with the U.S., a goal backed by wide swathes of Iranian society. "If they come forward and show good will, we should accept," he said in his campaign broadcast.

MODERATE CONSERVATIVE. It isn't yet clear what such a deal might look like, but the U.S. and Iran would have much to talk about. Rafsanjani would want an end to U.S. economic sanctions and military threats, while the U.S. would want verifiable safeguards on the Iranian nuclear program and good behavior by Iran in neighboring Iraq. Despite the favorable Iranian signals, reaching an agreement could prove agonizingly difficult, thanks to decades of mistrust on both sides.

At the same time, Rafsanjani would split the difference between the liberal reformers and hardliners on issues such as press and political freedom. A moderate conservative, he can be expected to be more tolerant of criticism in the media than the hardliners, who have closed reformist newspapers by the dozen.

Rafsanjani knows that reshaping the regime he did so much to create is bound to be a grueling and often thankless task. But he is apparently determined to take one last shot at burnishing his legacy. That's the best explanation for why, at his age, he wants to return to the meat grinder of Iranian politics. "

Scotsman.com News - International - Poll favourite admits Iran lied over nuclear bombs

2005-06-16T22:23:00.000-03:00

Scotsman.com News - International - Poll favourite admits Iran lied over nuclear bombs: "Poll favourite admits Iran lied over nuclear bombs

COLIN FREEMAN
IN TEHRAN

Key quote
"[It is] possible that, at times, Iran has not reported its [nuclear] activities. But from the time Iran decided to make such reports, it has made everything transparent" - Hashemi Rafsanjani, former Iranian president

Story in full THE front-runner in the Iranian presidential race said in a rare British television interview last night that Iran was not planning a nuclear bomb, but admitted that the country may in the past have deceived the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the West.

Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former president, who is leading opinion polls ahead of tomorrow's election, said that if elected as president he would continue Iran's nuclear programme, but only for peaceful ends.

Asked in a BBC interview about issues of trust between Iran, the United States and the IAEA, Mr Rafsanjani acknowledged that Iran may have been cheating on nuclear obligations. He said it was "possible that, at times, Iran has not reported its activities."

"But from the time Iran decided to make such reports, it has made everything transparent," he said.

Mr Rafsanjani said that if elected, he would make sure Iran lived up to all its obligations to the IAEA, but that he expected others to abide by regulations as well. "With regard to the IAEA, the agency itself has not complied with its own duties regarding Iran.

"They were given the task of helping us so that we could make use of the peaceful benefits of nuclear technology. They did not fulfil their duties," Mr Rafsanjani said.

On the issue of frosty relations with the US, Mr Rafsanjani suggested that comments by George Bush, the US president, about Iran being the axis of evil, a sponsor of terror and a pursuant of nuclear weapons had aggravated tensions.

"When he uses this kind of language, we say it is America that is the sponsor of terrorism, it's America that's the axis of evil in the world, and it is America that is continually breaching human rights, for example in Guantánamo and Abu Ghraib, and the black Americans and in many other areas."

But he said there were recent signs that suggested the US and Iran could work together and enjoy a better relationship.

"The obstacle that they'd put in the way of Iran's entry into the WTO was lifted. They said Iran can carry out limited nuclear enrichment, as long as it does not carry out military work, and recently even agreed to sell Boeing spare parts to Iran," Mr Rafsanjani said. "Of course they are only small signs - it might be the beginning."

Mr Rafsanjani is the favourite in tomorrow's presidential polls. As part of a marketing campaign designed to shed his hardline image, the 70-year-old cleric and former revolutionary has been encouraging young Tehranis to plaster his name anywhere they can.

Stickers saying "Hashemi - for the good of Iran" now adorn cars, bags and even the odd teenage girl's forehead, poking out from beneath the compulsory headscarves that his manifesto pledges to scrap.

Some, however, have been a little more creative with his emblem than his campaign team would have liked.

"I have rubbed out the last three letters of his name so that it says 'Hash - for the good of Iran'," says Mustapha, 21, grinning slyly.

"Most people round here wouldn't understand that it's a joke about drugs, but if anybody complains I will just say it was accidental."

Mustapha - not his real name - will not be making his mark in any other way when the polls open tomorrow. Like many other young Iranians, he plans to boycott the vote in protest at the strict vetoing of candidates by the country's conservative guardian council, the 12-strong clerical body that still wields the real power in the land.

Those on the shortlist, he said, were all either "retread" hardliners, or people who had promised reform in the past but failed to deliver.

"Voting this time is not going to make a difference, as Hashemi is going to get in anyway," he said. "All we will do is give the conservatives confidence that people have faith in their election system.""

Iran Pulls Out the Stops to Woo Voters

2005-06-16T22:22:00.000-03:00

Iran Pulls Out the Stops to Woo Voters: "June 16, 2005 latimes.com :

THE WORLD
Iran Pulls Out the Stops to Woo Voters
Regime, fearful of a low turnout, turns a blind eye as presidential aspirants use frowned-upon music, images and individuals in campaign.

By Nahid Siamdoust, Special to The Times

TEHRAN — On stage, a five-man band plays Persian music written by expatriates in Los Angeles, prompting half a dozen young men to dance in front of about 50 supporters of presidential candidate Hashemi Rafsanjani.

"This is illegal music," said Atieh Badindeh, 20, a campaign worker, "but to attract young people's votes we have permission from Mr. Rafsanjani personally to play it here tonight."

ADVERTISEMENT

Campaigning for Iran's presidential election Friday ends this morning, and the seven candidates are scrambling to win over those who are still undecided about whether, much less for whom, to vote.

"The elections have never been as unpredictable in Iran," said Hossein Derakhshan, an observer of Iranian politics who has a Web log called "Editor: Myself." "In the past, there has always been a clear front-runner, or two competing with each other."

Polls show 70-year-old Rafsanjani, a cleric and former president, leading, but such surveys have proved to be unreliable.

In a bid to win supporters, especially among the estimated 30 million young voters who make up the majority of Iran's 48-million-strong registered electorate, even some old-guard conservatives are sounding more like reformists in speech as well as advertising methods.

Before dropping out of the race Wednesday, Mohsen Rezai, a former commander of Iran's hard-line Revolutionary Guard, promised in his campaign posters a "Government of Love."

Their designer, Said Samadi, said the posters were meant to conjure an image of a united Iran, where friendship and pleasure prevail. Indeed, there wasn't the slightest indication of Rezai's military past on his posters.

Iran has come a long way since the days when Rezai's militiamen used fear and intimidation to protect Iran's Islamic identity, arresting citizens for as little as a music tape in their car or, in the case of women, a few strands of exposed hair or chips of color on their nails.

Now, more than a quarter-century later, most of Iran's 70 million people are too young to remember the Islamic Revolution, and educational and job opportunities are too few for them to be easily enticed by religious or revolutionary slogans. This year citizens as young as 15 can cast ballots.

"What the youth of today looks for is a better material life," said Namdar Sedaghat, an official at the campaign headquarters of Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, who recently resigned from his post as national police chief to run in the election.

"Joy is important in our campaign material," said Sedaghat, referring to large Qalibaf canvases around Tehran that show cheering young Iranian soccer fans with faces painted in white, red and green, the colors of the Iranian flag.

But as one incredulous young man pointed out: "When Qalibaf was police chief, the police wouldn't let fans with painted faces enter the soccer stadium!"

The 21-year-old medical student, Mohammed-Reza Shalbafan, added: "The Iranian electorate is too smart for tricks. But then again, some of today's advertising might even outsmart them."

Qalibaf's campaign methods have attracted unlikely supporters. Passing out Qalibaf fliers on a street north of the trendy Mohseni Square was 27-year-old political science student Shahrzad Khabaha. She voted twice before for the current reformist president, Mohammed Khatami, but said she had been persuaded by a friend to help in Qalibaf's campaign.

"I have seen how well Qalibaf has reformed the country's police. He established the women's police force, something no one cared enough to do. He has proved to be an excellent manager, and that is what the country needs right now," said Khabaha, puffing on a cigarette, a sight rarely seen among women in public here.

Farther up Jordan Street, a boulevard where young men and women wearing the latest fads cruise and pass phone numbers through car windows, a disco light showered the dusk with multicolor dots.

Underneath, a sidewalk stereo blared, "Now Hashemi has come. He has come to bring love and unity," set to pop music.

Youths stopped traffic, handed out peanuts and slapped "HASHEMI 2005" stickers on passing cars, sometimes in spite of the drivers' protests. Above them, a large canvas strapped on a metal structure showed a young voter with long hair and a goatee with the candidate's sticker on his forehead, holding a picture of Rafsanjani in one hand and flashing a victory sign with the other.

The banner bears an uncanny resemblance to a photograph of a demonstrator during student uprisings in 1999 demanding greater freedom and democracy."

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Gap widens between Iran's rich and poor

2005-06-16T22:09:00.000-03:00

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Gap widens between Iran's rich and poor: "Gap widens between Iran's rich and poor
Unemployment and poverty are some of the most important issues in Iran today. As Iranians prepare for presidential elections, BBC Tehran correspondent Frances Harrison spends the day with a house cleaner struggling to feed her family.

Tahira says she'll vote, though she does not trust politicians

At six o'clock in the morning Tahira Khanum's alarm clock starts beeping. It's the start of a long day for this 60-year-old woman who's the only breadwinner for her family of 10 in south Tehran.

Her husband and sons cannot find jobs.

Unemployment is the most serious economic and social problem in Iran now. The presidential election candidates promise more jobs but it's unclear if they can deliver.

"They make promises when we go and vote for them. They say 'We will build new schools and give you gas and piped water'. But when they win they completely forget us," complains Tahira.

Things are getting worse by the day for me

Tahira Khanum

After the bleak days of the Iran-Iraq war there is now more money around but inflation is wiping out any benefits for the very poor.

"The gap between rich and poor is widening," says Shirzad Bozorgmehr, the editor of Iran News.

Twenty-six years after the revolution, the presidential candidates repeat the rhetoric about helping the dispossessed - but the disparity in wealth is still striking.

"Things are getting worse by the day for me," says Tahira.

Despite her scepticism, she is going to vote. She has not decided which candidate to back yet, but she feels it is her religious duty to vote.

Tahira says she wants to vote for the sake of those who are unemployed, who cannot afford to get married or who turn to drugs.

Across the city

After a quick breakfast on the floor of her tiny kitchen, she dons her black chador for the long journey to the other end of the city. Six days a week Tahira goes to clean the houses of the wealthy.

It takes her three hours just to get to work one way - a journey that involves taking two buses and two shared taxis.

I am not going to vote in this election and I think most people - especially the young - feel like me

Fariba
Interior decorator

North Tehran is another world, where billboards advertise designer watches and expensive electronics Tahira could never dream of purchasing.

Today she's working in a swanky apartment that belongs to an interior designer.

Her employer Fariba is making cappuccinos for her guests looking extremely glamorous in a bright pink headscarf, matching pink sandals and a long white embroidered Indian cotton shirt.

Different concerns

Fariba has never been to the suburb of south Tehran where Tahira lives; it's a far cry from her modern apartment complete with a balcony dotted with Buddha statues, hanging glass lanterns and garden gnomes.

And when it comes to the elections, these two women have completely different concerns.

It can take Tahira three hours to get to one of her cleaning jobs

"I am not going to vote in this election and I think most people - especially the young - feel like me," says Fariba.

She is worried about the number of candidates who were disqualified from standing.

"In my opinion an election should be held in total freedom and people from different groups should be allowed to contest it but unfortunately... although there are educated and intellectual people they have not been allowed to run," Fariba says.

At the end of a long day mopping and washing, Tahira puts her chador on again, takes her money and disappears onto the streets of Tehran where her poverty makes her invisible. Just another poor woman going back to south Tehran.

As she walks under huge election posters urging people to vote, she's just hoping there'll be a president who will do more than just pay lip service to the problems of the poor.

Concepts like political freedom mean little to someone who's still struggling to feed her family in a country with the second biggest oil reserves in the world."

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran's politicians get image savvy

2005-06-16T22:07:00.000-03:00

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran's politicians get image savvy: "Iran's politicians get image savvy
By Frances Harriso
BBC News, Tehran

Candidates are trying hard to appeal to the youth vote
"I'm in Club Rafsanjani!" jokes a young girl on her mobile telephone to her mother in Fereshteh, an affluent area of north Tehran.
Dressed in three-quarter length trousers, a tight overcoat and colourful headscarf, she is one of several young Iranians handing out election stickers for Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the frontrunner in Friday's presidential elections.

Techno music is playing from Mr Rafsanjani's office and there are even two disco lights on the upper floor. Some of the Persian pop songs come from the banned satellite channels in California.

Meanwhile, boys in black jackets and pointy shoes wearing big shades and greased back hair are thrusting posters of the 71-year-old cleric into car windows.

They give out cakes and even copies of a special CD made for Mr Rafsanjani's campaign to motorists passing by.

The stickers are written in English, not Farsi and some boys are plastered in them - across their foreheads, on every arm and leg.

Breath of freedom

Mr Rafsanjani has found an unusual following among the youth of Iran, who hope he will address their problems if he comes to power.

The outcome of Iran's election is far from certain
There is a breath of freedom because elections are coming and these young people can take risks because they have a powerful backer.

Just a decade ago they would have been arrested for not respecting rules on Islamic dress and playing loud music in public.

This is a rare election when the outcome is not a sure thing.

Candidates are trying hard to appeal to the youth vote - aware that half the population is under the age of 25.

Mr Rafsanjani has not just enlisted the help of young Tehranis - he has also hired a controversial and popular film maker called Kamal Tabrizi, whose last film made fun of a con man pretending to be a cleric.

"If I put myself in his shoes and I was Mr Rafsanjani and he was a film maker who had made the film Lizard then I too would have gone for him," says Mr Tabrizi.

His film, The Lizard, was a huge hit. Funny and irreverent, it tells the story of a man who steals the robes and turban of a Shia cleric.

It makes fun of people's gullibility and even has a scene where the con man turned cleric chats up a pretty girl.

This is not the most obvious association for a senior cleric, perhaps, but as Mr Tabrizi says: "When you're looking for an election film then definitely any aspect that connects you to the people is crucial."

He also says that some of the other presidential candidates also asked for his help but he turned them down.

Image impact

Another contender, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, has a campaign film where he is shown piloting an Iran Air passenger plane.

Candidates know that image is important for this election
Mr Qalibaf may be a former Revolutionary Guard and Iran's former police chief, but now he is selling himself as a technocrat spearheading the younger generation.

He has employed professionals to run his campaign, knowing image can make a huge difference this time.

"It's the first time we've seen this scale of electioneering in Iran," says advertising executive Jalal Shamsian.

He is concerned that Iranian politicians still do not hire advertising companies to run their media campaigns, because he thinks the different candidates do not differentiate their messages enough.

However, many advertising companies do not want to get involved with one politician lest it affect their business chances if his rival wins.

For film makers, it seems it is easier to associate with politicians because their public popularity protects them.

There may only be seven candidates to choose between - nearly 1,000 other hopefuls were disqualified - but it is clear that Iranian politicians are becoming more image conscious."

IRAN: WARNING OF PLANS TO DISRUPT VOTE AS ELECTION CAMPAGNING ENDS

2005-06-16T22:02:00.000-03:00

IRAN: WARNING OF PLANS TO DISRUPT VOTE AS ELECTION CAMPAGNING ENDS: "

IRAN: WARNING OF PLANS TO DISRUPT VOTE AS ELECTION CAMPAGNING ENDS

Tehran, 16 June (AKI) - Campaigning in Iran's presidential elections came to a close on Thursday, one day before the vote, with Iran's outgoing president, Mohammad Khatami saying that there is an organised dirty tricks campaign to disrupt the election. "It seems there is an organised movement to hurt the glorious process of the elections," he said in a letter quoted by the official media.

The current front-runner in the polls is former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani but reports suggest that he may not be able to garner 50 percent of the votes and will probably face a tough challenge from two rivals, which may result in a run-off vote to decide who will be Iran's next president. The polls indicate that Rafsanjani's main rivals are conservative former police chief Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the reformist Mostafa Moin, an education minister under Khatami.

In the letter, Khatami did not identify who could be behind the plans to disrupt the vote which he said included "disruption of gatherings, beatings, illegal pamphlets and spreading lies to ruin candidates' reputations regardless of political inclination".

Iran has been rocked by multiple bombings in the capital and other cities in recent days that left up to 10 people dead.

Rafsanjani also denounced an alleged dirty tricks campaign against him by a "well-funded" opponent whom he refused to identify.

One of the candidates, former revolutionary guards chief Mohsen Rezai, pulled out of the race on Wednesday, in an apparent bid more chance to fellow right-wing candidates.

According to the Iranian news agency IRNA, the Tehran Police commander Morteza Talaie said on Thursday that 20,000 policemen will be on guard in the capital, to guarantee the security. He said another 5,000 are tasked with patrolling the city 24 hours ahead of election.

He said the police will strongly stop any form of violation of election regulations and will enforce ban on any kind of election campaign by any of the candidates one day before the election."

Sean Penn Interviews Iranian Frontrunner for 'S.F. Chronicle'

2005-06-16T22:01:00.000-03:00

Sean Penn Interviews Iranian Frontrunner for 'S.F. Chronicle': "Sean Penn Interviews Iranian Frontrunner for 'S.F. Chronicle'

By E&P Staff
Published: June 16, 2005 11:30 AM ET
NEW YORK Actor Sean Penn, reporting from Iran this week for the San Francisco Chronicle, snared a scoop worthy of a Broder or Brownstein, interviewing Muslim cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president who leads the opinion polls in the coming elections.

Penn also told Iranian film students that those chanting “Death to America” were only hurting their cause.

Penn, 44, asked Rafsanjani about a panel of religious hardliners barring hundreds from running in tomorrow's presidential elections.

Rafsanjani replied that Iran is allowing eight candidates to run for president -- certainly a greater number than American voters faced last November. "If the number of candidates is a proof of democracy, we are ... better than the Americans in this regard," newspapers quoted Rafsanjani as telling Penn.

The actor caused a stir when he attended Friday prayers last week and heard the “Death to America” chants. But on a visit to Iran's Film Museum in Tehran this week he told a student that those oft-heard chants hurt Iran-U.S. relations.

"I understand the nature of where it comes from and what its intention is," he said. "But I don't think it's productive because I think the message goes to the American people and it is interpreted very literally."

Asked whether his idea about Iran had changed since arriving in the country, he said: "I hope my ideas are ever-changing."

Last Sunday, security men briefly confiscated Penn's video camera as he observed a protest rally by about 300 women in Tehran.

He previously wrote about a visit to Iraq in 2003 for the Chronicle. His friend Phil Bronstein is editor of the newspaper."

Unfreeze assets & we will talk: Rafsanjani tells U.S. -

2005-06-15T23:08:00.000-03:00

Unfreeze assets & we will talk: Rafsanjani tells U.S. -: "
Unfreeze assets & we will talk: Rafsanjani tells U.S.
6/8/2005 6:25:00 PM GMT

Rafsanjani: dialogue between the U.S. & Iran is possible if their assets are released by Washington

Iranian presidential nominee Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was quoted as saying that Iran would agree to renew dialogue with the United States if it releases Iranian assets frozen since the Islamic revolution.

"As I have said before, a goodwill gesture on the part of the United States would be for them to unblock our assets," the top Shiite cleric said Wednesday in an interview with the Jomhuri Islami newspaper.

"If such a gesture was made, we could enter into negotiations. This has been my position and I still think the same way," the 70-year-old Rafsanjani said.

Iran and the United States cut off relations in 1980, a year after the revolution, and Iranian assets in the U.S. were frozen.

Rafsanjani has previously said the figure amounts to at least $8 billion plus interest.

"The United States has still not responded. But if they do respond, I will speak to the guide (supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) and we can start to negotiate," Rafsanjani said.

The charismatic politician, who previously served as Iranian president from 1989 to 1997, is campaigning for a comeback on a platform of closer engagement with the international community.

Seen as a pragmatic conservative, the frontrunner in the June 17 polls has also said he thinks the problem of relations with Washington needs to be "solved".

Iran's supreme leader, however, is seen as being against any reconciliation with the U.S.

But Rafsanjani said that the revolutionary founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei, had personally requested before his death and "by letter, that seven problems be resolved, notably that of the United States".

With much speculation about the state of relations between him and Khamenei, and many suggesting there could be a power struggle on the horizon, Rafsanjani told the paper the two were "great friends and maybe even had the purest friendship that ever existed".

Informal opinion polls have placed Rafsanjani ahead of the eight candidates approved to run in the June 17 poll, which will mark the end of reformist President Mohammad Khatami's second and final term in office.

Seen as running a distant second is former national police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, but apparently gaining ground is the main reformist candidate Mostafa Moin.

The main reformist party is hoping Moin can force a second-round run-off vote and go on to score a shock win against Rafsanjani."

Mostafa Moin threatens to quit poll race - More Tricks By Moien to Hurt Iran

2005-06-15T22:42:00.000-03:00

Iranian reformer threatens to quit poll race - report - Yahoo! UK & Ireland News: "Wednesday June 15, 02:03 AM

Iranian reformer threatens to quit poll race - report
LONDON (Reuters) - Iranian reformist candidate Mostafa Moin has threatened to pull out of the Iranian presidential race if there is more violence in the run-up to Friday's election.

In an interview with the Guardian newspaper on Wednesday, Moin said attacks on his supporters and bombings in three cities this week could force him to reconsider his position.

"If they continue in this way, my supporters will hold an emergency meeting to study the situation and they will reconsider our participation in the election," he was quoted as saying.

"Our preference is to continue until the end, but if we consider that the first rule and regulation of democracy, that is, a free election, is not observed, then we will have a decision to take."

Moin said the pre-election violence was designed to weaken his support by scaring people into staying at home or choosing a more hardline candidate.

"If they create tense circumstances, then people might think that if they vote for a military candidate, there will be peace and stability," he told the newspaper.

Bombs in three cities on Sunday and Monday killed nine people and injured dozens in the worst such violence in more than a decade. Officials blamed the attacks on exiled opposition groups hoping to dissuade Iranians from voting.

However, Moin suggested there may have been official approval. "I do not consider it improbable," he told the Guardian.

Moin, 54, a former higher education minister under outgoing President Mohammad Khatami, is one of the closest rivals to front-runner Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Opinion polls suggest pragmatic conservative Rafsanjani, 70, will win a tight race to reclaim the post he held from 1989 to 1997."

Tehran Times Political Desk - Mohsen Rezaii Drops Out

2005-06-15T22:13:00.000-03:00

Description of Selected News: "Rezaii drops out of race

Tehran Times Political Desk
TEHRAN -- In a surprise move, Mohsen Rezaii made a statement on Wednesday announcing that he had dropped out of the presidential election.

Qalibaf vows to create opportunities for the youth

Presidential candidate Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Wednesday in Neyshabur, Khorasan Razavi Province that he would not allow a specific group in society to benefit from various opportunities but would provide the entire nation, particularly the youth, with enough chances for success.

Problems such as unemployment, inflation, and poverty show that national development plans have not been successful, Qalibaf added.

In Islamshahr, Tehran Province on Tuesday, he noted that wealth is not distributed fairly in Iran, saying that people should become more involved in various economic activities that lead to the production of wealth and power. “Economic development can only be achieved through healthy competition and without monopolization.”

He went on to say that attending to villagers’ affairs would be one of the priorities of his government. Qalibaf called for a massive turnout in the upcoming election, adding, “People will embark on a new move on June 17 that will end all the wrong moves of the past.”

I will keep my promise: Karrubi

Presidential hopeful Mahdi Karrubi said on Wednesday that his plan to give 500,000 rials per month to every Iranian over 18 years old is practicable.

“I am aware of the resources of this budget, one of which is the rising price of oil as well as the government’s income, which has also increased,” he told students in Sistan-Baluchestan Province.

Karrubi noted that his plan would not lead to the elimination of subsidies as some people have claimed, adding that he would keep his promise if elected president.

“I have discussed this plan with economic experts, and all have admitted that it is practicable,” he said.

I will remain in election until the end: Ahmadinejad

Tehran Mayor Mahmud Ahmadinejad said in Sari, Mazandaran Province on Tuesday that he would remain in the election until the end.

Ahmadinejad explained that his strategy is inviting the world to Islam in a logical way.

An Islamic government is an honest and pure government which belongs to and serves the entire nation, he stated.

Later on Tuesday, Ahmadinejad told a gathering of people in Qaemshahr, Mazandaran Province that Iran should make use of the experiences of other nations for development, but added, “However, imitation is not permissible. “We should first increase domestic production by supporting our industries and then enter the global market powerfully.”

In Babul on Tuesday, Ahmadinejad said that the slogan of an Islamic government is justice and its main elements are the people. “An Islamic government will replace the idea of an imported management with the idea of a religious management.

U.S. must unfreeze Iranian assets: Rafsanjani

Presidential hopeful Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here on Tuesday that the United States has been hostile toward Iran for over 30 years. In an interview with CNN, Rafsanjani said the United States has taken "steps in the right direction" but must do more to prove to Iranians that it has relinquished "a hostile attitude."

"For example, they should unfreeze our assets in the United States," he said. "Those assets belong to us. If they do that, it is a good sign that the United States has relinquished hostility toward Iran.

"I am going for a policy of relaxation of tension, and this is a policy that I will apply to the United States as well," he said.

"And if Americans are sincere in the cooperation, working with Iran, I think the time is right to open a new chapter in our relations with the United States. "But if the United States wants to continue its obstructions and hostility, then the previous conditions will persist."

We must not doubt that we will win: Moin

Presidential hopeful Mostafa Moin said on Tuesday that upholding democracy is the only way to resolve Iran’s problems.

Speaking at a conference of the Front for Democracy and Human Rights held at Tehran University, Moin said that without freedom, intellectual and financial assets are useless.

He also stated that intellectuals and the youth would play an important role in his administration.

“Our people have become much more aware than in the past and will certainly take part in the June 17 election to defend democracy and human rights.

“I have come to follow the path of President Mohammad Khatami and to take another step toward materializing the ideals of the reformist front.

“We must not doubt that we are the winners in this election,” he declared.

Mehralizadeh pledges to support agricultural sector

Presidential hopeful Mohsen Mehralizadeh said on Wednesday that he would prioritize plans to support, equip, and renovate the agricultural sector in his “Welfare Government”.

In a meeting with agricultural specialists and workers, Mehralizadeh referred to the lack of mechanization as one of the main problems in the agricultural sector.

He stated that facilities should be distributed fairly in the country so that villagers can enjoy the same benefits as urban residents. “In this way, we will no longer face excessive migration from villages to cities.”"

Newsday.com: Iran's Rafsanjani Back for Twilight Run

2005-06-15T22:07:00.000-03:00

Newsday.com: Iran's Rafsanjani Back for Twilight Run: "AP World News
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Iran's Rafsanjani Back for Twilight Run

By BRIAN MURPHY
Associated Press Writer
June 15, 2005, 4:07 PM EDT
TEHRAN, Iran -- The system has been very good to Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani. His connections and cunning since the 1979 Islamic Revolution have brought him wealth, power and privilege. Now, as the front-runner in Friday's presidential elections, another chapter could open in the Iranian equivalent of a blockbuster: a chance to regain the presidency he held in 1989-97.

Rafsanjani's backers joined in a blitz of distributing fliers and posters Wednesday before the formal end of campaigning. Young supporters chanted his name like cheerleaders. Girls on roller skates buzzed around Tehran with Rafsanjani stickers on their knee-length tunics.

But no one really needs reminding. Rafsanjani has been a staple of debates since he began his deft ascent through the order created by the Islamic revolution of 1979. It has led him the heights of political and business power. His family empire runs an airline, the construction contract to expand the Tehran subway and the largest chunk of Iran's $400 million pistachio export business.

Iranian newspapers say the 70-year-old turban-wearing tycoon is the most likely candidate to win the presidency -- which he left in 1997 because the law did not permit him to run three times in succession.

"He is the most powerful man in Iran," said Muqtedar Khan, a professor of Islamic political studies at Adrian College in Michigan. "He is both a king and a king-maker. He's often been called the power behind the throne."

That is because of his close ties to both the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founding father of the revolution, and his successor as supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final word on every important matter in Iran.

The state archives contain a postcard that Rafsanjani sent Khamenei from the United States a few years before the revolution. Rafsanjani congratulated Khamenei on his release from the shah's prison, adding: "Maybe one day we'll lead the country."

Some analysts say Rafsanjani may be one of the few politicians capable of challenging Khamenei, who staunchly opposes dialogue with the United States. The outgoing president, Mohammad Khatami, failed to get Khamenei to approve his major reforms.

"I am going for a policy of relaxation of tensions and detente, and this is a policy I will apply toward the United States as well," Rafsanjani said in an interview with CNN on Tuesday.

Rafsanjani portrays himself as the best candidate to handle the sensitive negotiations with the West over Iran's nuclear program, which Washington believes is a cover for building an atomic bomb. Tehran maintains it is for generating electricity.

But Rafsanjani has been a wild card in the past: taking the pro-Western path when it suited him and a hard line on other occasions.

"People say Rafsanjani is a chameleon who is willing to change any way that suits him," supporter Eisa Mardani said at a rally. "But that's better than someone unwilling to listen and change, is it not? These are tense times in our region. We need a president with power, but one that's flexible."

One of four hard-line candidates withdrew from the race Wednesday, heeding the advice of clerics who said the conservative vote was split, state television reported.

Mohsen Rezaei, former head of the elite Revolutionary Guards, had little chance of winning. The other hard-line candidates are former radio and television chief Ali Larijani, former national police chief Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

In this campaign, Rafsanjani has been leaning toward the moderates. At a pro-Rafsanjani concert this week, the band played songs in the popular style of Iranian emigres in Los Angeles. The music is banned but still widely tolerated under the social freedoms opened by Khatami.

Rafsanjani was born near the country's pistachio capital, Rafsanjan, in Iran's southeastern desert. His family worked the fields, but he left as a teenager to study under Khomeini in the seminaries of Qom south of Tehran.

Khomeini was exiled in the 1960s, and Rafsanjani joined the anti-shah forces and was jailed several times.

After the revolution, he built his political power as speaker of parliament. Iranian reports say Rafsanjani helped persuade Khomeini to seek an end to the devastating war with Iraq.

As president during the 1990s, Rafsanjani helped ease Iran's international isolation, but he failed to turn around the economy, which sputtered despite huge oil and gas resources.

Rafsanjani, however, grew rich on the cozy system built around state-controlled industrial foundations. He has never disclosed his assets, and he claimed last week to be only a successful "farmer."

Rafsanjani was tainted by a wave of killings of dissidents during and after his presidency in the 1990s. He was never directly implicated in the slayings, which were blamed on Iran's intelligence service, but prominent critics, including the jailed journalist Akbar Gangi, accused Rafsanjani of approving the murders. Gangi has never provided proof.

His most humbling moment came in the parliamentary elections of 2000 when he failed to win a seat. But he retained his position on the influential Expediency Council and has used it for his comeback."

KRT Wire | 06/15/2005 | Front-runner in Iran praises Islamic government, embraces reform

2005-06-15T22:04:00.000-03:00

KRT Wire | 06/15/2005 | Front-runner in Iran praises Islamic government, embraces reform: "Posted on Wed, Jun. 15, 2005

Front-runner in Iran praises Islamic government, embraces reform

BY SORAYA SARHADDI NELSON
Knight Ridder Newspapers
TEHRAN, Iran - (KRT) - Is presidential front-runner Hashemi Rafsanjani a champion of Iran's conservative Islamic establishment? Or is he a reform-minded cleric who'll ease social restrictions on the country's beleaguered youth, improve relations with the United States and boost Iran's flagging economy?

Rafsanjani is all of the above, according to his three-week campaign, which officially ended Wednesday.

On Monday, for example, young, pretty campaign volunteers wearing makeup - forbidden under the country's Islamic-based law - distributed Rafsanjani literature to drivers stuck in northern Tehran traffic, even as the 70-year-old cleric praised the Islamic government to fundamentalist audiences at nearby meeting halls with separate entrances for men and women.

The mixed messages haven't detracted from Rafsanjani's support among many Iranians headed to the polls Friday. While he doesn't appear to command the majority needed to win the race in the first round, he's the most popular of the seven candidates who remain in the race. Various Iranian polls have predicted he'll win at least 27 percent of the votes.

Former Revolutionary Guard Commander Mohsen Rezaei withdrew from the race Wednesday to avoid splitting the conservative vote, according to state-run television. He didn't immediately endorse any of the remaining candidates.

Rafsanjani's supporters hail from across the political spectrum, including the more liberal, pro-reform camp that twice voted for departing President Mohammad Khatami and fundamentalists who embrace the authority of the Islamic Republic's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Many likely voters say they think that Rafsanjani, who served two terms as president after the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, is the only candidate who's capable of propelling their country out of economic stagnation while keeping in check the conservative, unelected clerics who wield most of the power. Rafsanjani currently heads the Expediency Council, which mediates disputes between the Majlis, or parliament, and the powerful, unelected Guardian Council.

Rafsanjani has capitalized on that image, distributing millions of campaign leaflets that pledge "action, instead of slogans."

His advisers say he'll decrease government interference in people's private lives, promote Iran's nuclear program for peaceful purposes, seek detente with the United States and privatize Iran's economy, of which 40 to 85 percent is in state hands, depending on who's counting.

Among his proposals is a gradual increase in Iran's per capita income from $5,000 to $15,000 per year, welcome news in a country in which two-thirds of the people are younger than 30 and underemployed.

"If we called my last presidential term `Reconstruction One,' then we should call the upcoming one `Reconstruction Two,'" he told jubilant supporters Monday night at a religious hall in northern Tehran.

It's surprising that Rafsanjani has garnered so much good will, considering what voters think of him. Many who plan to vote for him say they still believe that he acquired vast wealth through corruption and shady deals, charges he's denied repeatedly.

Of Iran's 46.8 million eligible voters, roughly half are expected to turn out, Interior Minister Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari said Wednesday.

Amir Mohebian, the political editor of the Iranian newspaper Resalat ("Prophecy"), said that conservative leaders, while sharing Rafsanjani's ideology, didn't want him to become president because he was so powerful.

"In politics, sharing the cake is never good," Mohebian said. "But if they back Mr. Rafsanjani, it means sharing the cake."

Rafsanjani has been so unpopular at times that in 2000 he came in a humiliating 30th in the race for Tehran's 30 elected representatives to the Majlis. He decided not to take the seat.

But today, many Iranians argue that only Rafsanjani, whose religious rank is just one step below ayatollah, can push the country forward. He'll fight to curb corruption and improve the nation's standard of living, they say.

Talah, 23, a Rafsanjani campaign volunteer who said she voted for Khatami in 2001, said she so firmly believed in her candidate's ability to turn the conservative establishment around that she'd spent 12 hours a day since late May hawking bumper stickers and pamphlets to drivers and passers-by.

"Mr. Rafsanjani has the power to put into practice what he says," said Talah, an unemployed actress who refused to give her last name, fearing her parents would find out what she's been doing. "We don't only want freedom, we need to improve the economy, and he can do that."

Mohsen Kadivar, a pro-reform political analyst, believes that such thinking is flawed. People shouldn't forget that Rafsanjani is a pillar of the very establishment that many Iranians are fed up with, said Kadivar, a dissident cleric who's spent time in jail for his staunch advocacy of political and social reform.

"It was Rafsanjani himself who said, `No one in the past 45 years is closer to the supreme leader than I,'" Kadivar said.

Rafsanjani reiterated his close ties to Khamenei in an interview Tuesday with CNN. He recited the long-standing conservative demand that the United States release millions of dollars in Iranian assets that were frozen after the fall of shah.

He also is firm that Iran won't give up enriching nuclear material, something the Bush administration is demanding.

Still, analysts say Rafsanjani won't be able to ignore the growing Iranian clamor for an end to their nation's pariah status.

To that end, Rafsanjani has a multi-year plan to end hostilities with the United States, according to Mohammad Atrianfar, the editor of the newspaper Shargh ("East").

The first part will involve toning down anti-American slogans such as "Death to America," he said, adding that he hopes the Bush administration will reciprocate by avoiding calling Iran part of an "Axis of Evil" or calling for overthrowing the Islamic Republic. Meetings between the heads of lower level ministries as well as members of Congress and the Majlis would follow eventually.

Said Rafsanjani in the CNN interview: "If America is sincere in its cooperation in working with Iran, I think the time is right to open a new chapter in our relations.""

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - News In English

2005-06-15T20:48:00.000-03:00

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - News In English: "IRAN: SPORT STARS SUPPORT RAFSANJANI
(AGI)- Teheran, June 15. The starts of the Iranian sport sided with Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani for the Friday's vote that will decide upon the future of the President of the Iranian republic. Ali Daei, the Persian football player (the first to beat the record of 100 goals in the international games) and the Olympic champion Hossein Rezazadeh (golden medal in weight lifting in 2000, Sydney and 2004, Athens) signed an 'open letter' in full support of ' Rafsanjani's programmes'. (AGI) -
151943 GIU 05 "

JTA NEWS Presents The Mossad defense: AIPAC Spy Scandal Was All Franklin's Fault

2005-06-14T23:32:00.000-03:00

JTA NEWS:

Ron Kampeas and Matthew E. Berger are hacks who function more as Public Relations men for Mossad then as real reporters. Notice how they are trying to spin the story. Rosen, Weissman, and AIPAC are minding their own business when greedy grasping and incredibly ambitious Col. Larry Franklin seeks out these poor men and tries to trap them into boosting Franklin's career. The problem for these duplicitous reporters is that the FBI taped Rosen seeking out Pentagon Iran Analysts of which Franklin is one. How can it be all Franklin if Rosen sought him out?

Then they claim Naor Gilon was not acting as a Handler even when he was obviously acting as a Handler. Franklin was seen as a major score for the Israeli spies Rosen and Weissman. The Tivoli meeting was to introduce Franklin to their Handler and Mossad Station chief Naor Gilon. Rosen was a Mossad operative for better than 20 years and he had a long stream of Mossad Handlers including Naor Gilon, Ron Prosor, and Jeremy Issacharoff. JBOC

"Indictment of Pentagon official suggests
possible case against former AIPAC staffers
By Ron Kampeas and Matthew E. Berger
June 14, 2005

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 14 (JTA) -- A mid-level Pentagon analyst hoped to move up the Bush administration ladder and influence its Iran policy by relaying classified information to a senior Israeli Embassy staffer and two senior officials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, according to a federal indictment.

The indictment, unsealed Monday in the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., sheds new light on the depth of Larry Franklin’s relationships with Steve Rosen, the former AIPAC policy director, and Keith Weissman, a former AIPAC Iran analyst.

It also sheds light on his relationship with Naor Gilon, the chief political officer at the Israeli Embassy in Washington.

And it details the degree to which Franklin, who was not Jewish, apparently believed in the far-reaching influence of Israeli and pro-Israel officials inside the U.S. government.

Franklin, an Iran specialist, pled not guilty to all six counts in the indictment. His lawyer, Plato Cacheris, did not return calls asking for further comment. Attorneys for Rosen and Weissman and spokesmen for AIPAC would also not comment.

Franklin is charged with conspiring with Rosen and Weissman to communicate classified information, which suggests the two former AIPAC staffers will be indicted as well. Sources close to the men say they expect to be charged next week.

Rosen and Weissman were fired from AIPAC in April because of what AIPAC said was information that arose related to the FBI investigation.

The indictment provides a glimpse into the government’s potential case against the two AIPAC officials. It also suggests the degree to which tapped conversations could reveal how the nation’s premier pro-Israel lobby operates. It also reinforces the impression that AIPAC was the original target of the investigation.

And it paradoxically undermines what had until now appeared to be a central tenet of the government’s case against Rosen and Weissman -- that they relayed classified information to Gilon on Franklin’s request.

But according to the indictment, Franklin met with Gilon 14 times, whereas he met with Weissman and Rosen only seven times, alone or separately. One question lawyers for Rosen and Weissman will likely raise is why Franklin would need them to reach Gilon.

Rosen and Weissman are identified in the document as unindicted Coconspirators One and Two, respectively. Gilon is identified as Foreign Official of the Embassy of Foreign Nation A. JTA has confirmed the identity of all three individuals.

The meetings with Gilon -- like the first charge, relating to the meetings with Rosen and Weissman -- are described as a “conspiracy to communicate classified information” and Gilon is called a “conspirator.” Otherwise there is no hint of legal action against the Israeli, and he continues to function in Washington as a fully employed political affairs officer, meeting with counterparts in the Bush administration.

The indictment suggests that Gilon at times pressed Franklin for further information, and that on one occasion, Franklin incorporated Gilon’s views into a memo for Pentagon higher-ups. The exchanges of information had to do with Iran’s nuclear capabilities and its actions in post-occupation Iraq.

The sources close to Rosen and Weissman said they saw the 20-page indictment as good news from their perspective.. Nothing in the document suggests positive proof that Rosen and Weissman relayed any classified information to a foreign official, which would be key to establishing an espionage case.

One passage, however, suggests that on at least one occasion Franklin told them the information they were getting was “highly classified.”

Rosen and Weissman reportedly expect to be charged for another incident, not related in this document, that occurred in July 2004.

At that time, Franklin, allegedly working undercover for the FBI, told Weissman about an imminent threat against Israelis in northern Iraq. In that case, Weissman allegedly relayed the information to Rosen and they in turn allegedtly passed it onto Gilon and Washington Post reporter Glenn Kessler.

Officials at AIPAC also relayed the information to the White House, according to multiple sources.

The Israeli Embassy said that nothing in the indictment explicitly states that Gilon knew he was on the receiving end of classified information.

“Our diplomats conducted themselves professionally according to established diplomatic practice and did not do anything to contravene these standards,” Israel Embassy spokesman David Siegel said after reviewing the indictment.

The document says Franklin was not specifically authorized to meet with foreign officials, but Gilon would not necessarily have known that.

In addition to the two conspiracy charges, Franklin is also charged with four counts of communicating classified or national defense information on his own. Judge T.S. Ellis set a trial date for Sept. 6.

Separately, Franklin was charged in a West Virginia federal court with mishandling classified information. He allegedly brought documents to his home there, outside of the acceptable jurisdiction.

The document unsealed Monday paints Franklin as a figure eager to advance up the political ladder. He allegedly presses Rosen to put a good word in for him at the National Security Council, where the AIPAC official apparently had connections. “I’ll do what I can,” Rosen allegedly tells Franklin, according to the indictment.

The indictment says Franklin communicated with Gilon “to enhance his own standing, advance his own personal policy agenda, and influence persons within and without the United States government.”

Franklin is also depicted in the indictment as eager to influence U.S. policy on Iran, a portrayal that dovetails with accounts from other sources who say Franklin was frustrated with colleagues at the Pentagon who seemed obsessed with postwar Iraq, to the extent even of co-opting Iran.

A telling element of the alleged meetings with Gilon is that they seemed to take place in the open. Franklin and Gilon allegedly communicated over their office phone lines, which Gilon surely would have expected to be monitored.

On one occasion, Franklin and Gilon met near the embassy, according to the indictment, which also said they routinely met at the Pentagon Officer’s Athletic Club, where Franklin, a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, was eligible for membership.

Gilon may have solicited information from Franklin, but does not otherwise appear to have behaved like a “handler.” According to the indictment, Franklin had to press Gilon several times to write a letter on behalf of Franklin’s daughter, who planned to travel to Israel. On one occasion, Gilon handed Franklin a gift card -- the sole payment the FBI could apparently pin down.

The alleged meetings with Rosen and Weissman are not much more surreptitious, but the account in the indictment suggests that the government has a trove of information on the functioning of AIPAC -- an organization that hates exposure. Rosen is recorded as telling someone over the phone, en route to his first meeting with Franklin in February 2003, that he is excited to meet with a “Pentagon guy” who is a “real insider.”

About a month after that initial meeting, Franklin allegedly faxed Rosen an addendum Franklin wrote for a classified internal policy paper on Iran. According to the indictment, Franklin re-typed the addendum before faxing it, suggesting that Rosen would not have seen the original document -- and would therefore not have known that it was classified.

Rosen and AIPAC shared Franklin’s concerns that the administration was ignoring the possible threat from Iran, and within days of receiving the document, Rosen allegedly told a journalist that this is a “considerable story” and that “I’m not supposed to know this,” according to the indictment.

Rosen and Weissman clearly saw Franklin as a valuable asset, according to the indictment. In a meeting at an Italian restaurant in Arlington, Va., on June 26, 2003, Franklin relayed information to them about the threat posed to U.S. forces in Iraq by Iranian intelligence agents and said it was “highly classified.”

Later that day, according to the indictment, the FBI tapped Rosen telling Weissman that Franklin had related “quite a story,” and describing Franklin as a channel “to keep wide open in so far as possible.”

Weissman told Rosen he planned to take Franklin to a Baltimore Orioles baseball game. “Smart guy,” Rosen complimented Weissman. “That’s the thing to do.” Four days later, Weissman and Franklin went to the game.

Sources close to Rosen and Weissman’s defense say that the real value -- and the bulk of the conversation - in the June 26, 2003 meeting was in unclassified information related to the formulation of a tougher Bush administration policy on Iran.

The indictment reinforces earlier reports that AIPAC and Rosen were targeted by the FBI before Franklin.

In fact, Franklin first appears on the radar on Aug. 5, 2002, when the FBI apparently tapped Rosen asking another acquaintance at the Department of Defense about Iran specialists. The contact, who is not identified, recommended Franklin. Rosen and Franklin spoke later the same month, but apparently did not meet until Feb. 12, 2003.

Defense sources say they believe AIPAC was targeted as early as 2001 by a Bush administration determined to clamp down on the leaking of secrets, especially following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

© JTA. Reproduction of material without written permission is strictly prohibited."

CNN.com - Rafsanjani: U.S. must do more - Jun 14, 2005

2005-06-14T22:46:00.000-03:00

CNN.com - Rafsanjani: U.S. must do more - Jun 14, 2005: "Rafsanjani: U.S. must do more
Former Iranian president the favorite in Friday's election
Wednesday, June 15, 2005 Posted: 0137 GMT (0937 HKT)

Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is seeking a third term in elections this Friday.
TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani -- now seeking another term as the Islamic republic's elected leader -- said Tuesday the United States has been hostile toward his country for more than 30 years.

Rafsanjani told CNN the United States has taken "steps in the right direction" but must do more to prove to Iranians that it has relinquished what he called "a hostile attitude."

Rafsanjani is considered the favorite to win Friday's presidential election, according to opinion polls. His chief rivals are top reformist candidate Mostafa Moin and hard-liner Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. President Mohammad Khatami is ineligible to run. (Full story)

"The United States before the [Islamic Revolution of 1979], and even after the revolution, has shown hostility toward Iran," Rafsanjani said.

"Before the revolution you supported the regime of the shah that treated people very badly, and even after the revolution the United States has not been very good to us."

Iran and the European Union are in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, which the republic says is for peaceful purposes only.

The United States, which has had no formal relations with Iran since the revolution -- during which militants held more than 50 Americans hostage for 444 days -- opposes allowing Iran access to enrich uranium for its program.

President Bush, who has said Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, wants to increase international pressure on the country to halt what the administration believes to be a secret nuclear weapons program.

The Bush administration has already offered two incentives to Iran for complying -- not blocking Iran's application to the World Trade Organization and allowing shipment of parts for Iran's aging commercial airliners.

"Yes, I consider these steps in the right direction," said Rafsanjani, who served two terms as Iran's president from 1989 to 1997.

"And we also heard another thing that President Bush has said that Iranians can have low-level uranium enrichment. If you look at these three things together, it seems the United States is choosing a new approach. But this is not enough. They need to do more.

"For example, they should unfreeze our assets in the United States," he said. "Those assets belong to us. If they do that, it is a good sign that the United States has relinquished hostility toward Iran."

Rafsanjani's comment about Bush was a surprise, since the administration has never wavered from its stance against uranium enrichment.

The former president said Iran has proposed to European negotiators that it "continue with enrichment on a limited scale that has no danger of us going in a military direction."

"We are going to give assurances that the enrichment will not be for military purposes," Rafsanjani said. "We have told them what we can do ... the plan we have proposed they will study, and it will be accepted by them or they will present a new proposal and then we will study the new proposal."

Rafsanjani acknowledged "some failure on our side" in reporting past nuclear activities, blaming the International Atomic Energy Agency for not providing adequate assistance but saying there was "no reason for us to conceal anything."

IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said Monday that Iran is "inching forward" in providing proof its nuclear program is peaceful.

He noted, however, that Iran must go beyond meeting the letter of the law in convincing the international community it will not build nuclear weapons.

ElBaradei said a detailed report by IAEA inspectors deal with Iran is expected later in the week.

'A brutal judgment'
Regarding claims by the United States that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism, Rafsanjani said it was Americans who created terrorists.

"If there is terrorism under the name of al Qaeda, the responsibility lies directly with the United States," he said.

"The United States can hardly charge us with supporting terrorists when the MKO, the Iranian terrorist outfit, is supported by the United States. This allegation of support for terrorism is really a brutal judgment."

MKO, or Mujahedin-E-Khalq, is a group originally formed to oppose the West-leaning Shah in the 1960s but later turned against Iran's Islamic leaders as well.

The group is on the U.S. State Department's list of terrorist organizations because of its use of bombings and assassinations to further its purposes.

The group has provided the United States with information about Iran's alleged nuclear weapons programs.

Rafsanjani appeared confident that he would Friday's election and said he would take care of the country's business in an orderly fashion.

"I am going for a policy of relaxation of tension, and this is a policy that I will apply to the United States as well," he said.

"And if Americans are sincere in the cooperation, working with Iran, I think the time is right to open a new chapter in our relations with the United States.

"But if the United States wants to continue its obstructions and hostility, then the previous past conditions will persist."

CNN's Christiane Amanpour contributed to this report."

Gap between Qalibaf, Rafsanjani two per cent - Iran poll

2005-06-14T22:43:00.000-03:00

Gap between Qalibaf, Rafsanjani two per cent - Iran poll: "Gap between Qalibaf, Rafsanjani two per cent - Iran poll
Jun 14, 2005, 16:30 GMT

Text of report by Iranian Fars News Agency web site

Fars News Agency, 14 June: According to the latest opinion polls conducted in the country Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has overtaken Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani in 100 provinces of the country and the gap between them is now two per cent.

The opinion poll was commissioned by Fars News Agency and conducted by one of the country's polling agencies on 23 Khordad. It used the Cochran formula and it took a sample of 16,751 people. According to the poll: Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani has 22.27 per cent, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf 20.08 per cent, Mahmud Ahmadinezhad 15.53 per cent, Mostafa Mo'in 10 per cent, Mehdi Karrubi 7.87 per cent, Ali Larijani 7.49 per cent, Mohsen Mehralizadeh 2.83 per cent and Mohsen Reza'i 2.23 per cent of the votes.

The opinion poll was conducted in 11 provinces and Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf's had a larger number of votes than the other main candidate Hashemi-Rafsanjani in Ardabil, Esfahan, Bushehr, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari, Southern Khorasan, Khorasan-e Razavi, Northern Khorasan, Khuzestan, Qazvin, Kordestan, Kohkiluye va Bowyerahmad and Hamedan.

According to the opinion poll, as well as a number of other opinion polls, there has been a considerable increase in Qalibaf's and Ahmadinezhad's votes. This may cause an upset with less than three days to go [to the elections].

Source: Fars News Agency web site, Tehran, in Persian 1418 gmt 14 Jun 05

BBC Mon ME1 MEPol bg
Copyright 2005 BBC Monitoring Service distributed by United Press International"

The Hashemi Brand in Iran's Elections

2005-06-14T22:40:00.000-03:00

The Hashemi Brand in Iran's Elections: "The Hashemi Brand in Iran's Elections
by Tori Egherman
June 14, 2005
The elections in Iran are in full force, with only a few days left until the Friday ballot. Iranian television is filled with interviews with the candidates, sound bytes and advertisements about the vote. Movies are interrupted every few minutes by voting reminder message; in the middle of intense emotional scenes, bells ring and an animated ballot dances across the screen.

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Attention Basics: How to Get Your Messages to Stand Out (Part 1 of 2)
Candidates' Web sites tout the politicians' credentials and attributes, while blogs debate who is genuinely democratic-minded--or, conversely, true to the tenets of the Islamic Revolution.

The presidential campaign in Iran is short: about one month. There are a lot of rumors and discussions before the official start of the campaign season, but it really goes into gear once the Supreme Council announces the list of approved candidates. This year there are six. (For more information, see "Who Are the Candidates" on Open Democracy's Iran blog.)

One of the candidates, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (www.hashemirafsanjani.ir), has done more than the others to market his particular presidential brand. In this brief article, I discuss the tools that his campaign has used to create the Hashemi brand.

Guerilla Marketing

Jay Conrad Levinson is often called the father of guerilla marketing. He defines it this way: "It is a body of unconventional ways of pursuing conventional goals. It is a proven method of achieving profits with minimum money."

While I cannot speak for the actual costs of the Rafsanjani campaign, the methods that the campaign is using are, indeed, unconventional. They are particularly unconventional for post-revolutionary Iran.

The Rafsanjani campaign has employed Iran's hip youth as its army of unpaid campaign workers. They wrap themselves in Hashemi stickers, tape his poster on their backs, celebrate soccer success in his name, attend performances at the candidate's Tehran headquarters and participate in skating events. They wear Rafsanjani campaign materials like fashion accessories.

This army of hip youth may be politically apathetic in large part, but that does not really matter. The Rafsanjani campaign has grabbed the image of youth and energy for itself. You might say that the Rafsanjani generation and the Pepsi generation are one. In other words, it may not matter to Pepsi whether the Pepsi generation drinks Pepsi, as long as Pepsi's sales are robust; similarly, as long as Rafsanjani wins the election, who cares who voted for him.

The Graphic Image

Rafsanjani is his own brand. Because of his uncommon looks, he is, arguably, the most recognized cleric in the world. As with every other candidate in Iran's presidential election, his image covers entire walls.

The campaign puts forth several images of Rafsanjani: the official site features a photo album that highlights his revolutionary achievements, while the popular photo-sharing site Flickr displays a very different view of the candidate.

The posters with his image are conservative and traditional, while the popular Hashemi sticker is really quite radical. On it, the Iranian flag is reduced to an abstract mark. His name, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, is reduced to Hashemi.

In a country where wives often call their husbands by formal names like Engineer (Mohandes) or Mister (Agha) and young girls are often called Young Ma'am (Dokhtar Khanum), the use of a name other than the surname is more than familiar: it is intimate.

With the plastering Hashemi stickers on ankles, across foreheads and on motorcycle windscreens, the Rafsanjani brand has come to mean that it is offering intimacy and friendship.

Will It Work?

Only time will tell how truly effective the Rafsanjani campaign has been. One thing is for certain: Political campaigns in Iran have changed. The Rafsanjani campaign is just one of the many signs of that change. (Check out the Flickr photo tag Election84 for a sense of this visual election.)

The campaign of former police chief Qalibaf, who is number two or three in the running, also targets the youth. With his casual and stylish clothes, chic glasses and sponsors such as Efes Zero Alcohol beer, the Qalibaf campaign directly competes with the Rafsanjani campaign for the hearts of Iran's youthful population.

The biggest difference between the two marketing styles is this: Rafsanjani's campaign is fueled by the images of teenagers and 20-somethings wrapped in Hashemi accessories, while Qalibaf's marketing team has chosen to make the candidate himself the symbol of youth with his new fashionable outfits and attractive image.

We'll Be Watching

It isn't just the presidential candidates who are seeking to brand and re-brand themselves--it's the entire country of Iran.

Plans are in the works for a tourism campaign that will target CNN's international audience. Payvand News reports that the country is ready for foreign tourists and investors.

Well, we'll be watching.

MarketingProfs.com"

AM - Former president the frontrunner in Iranian election campaign

2005-06-14T20:15:00.000-03:00

AM - Former president the frontrunner in Iranian election campaign: "Former president the frontrunner in Iranian election campaign PRINT FRIENDLY EMAIL STORY
AM - Tuesday, 14 June , 2005 08:14:02
Reporter: Mark Willacy
PETER CAVE: A 70-year old cleric and pillar of the Iranian revolution has emerged as the frontrunner in the race for that country's presidency.

Hashemi Rafsanjani has already held the presidency once between 1989 and 1997.

This time round he's selling himself as a pragmatic reformer in a field of mainly hardline conservative candidates.

Middle East Correspondent Mark Willacy reports from Tehran.

MARK WILLACY: With is sparse goatee beard and white turban, Hashemi Rafsanjani's image has been plastered all over this congested capital. The 70-year-old cleric is the true survivor of Iranian politics. He's revered as a pillar of the revolution, and a confidante of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini, but he also stands accused of corruption and killing dissidents during his presidency in the 1990s.

(Mohammad Atrianfar speaking)

"Hashemi Rafsanjani is the most pragmatic religious politician in Iran", says Mohammad Atrianfar, who's a close associate of the former president. "Rafsanjani is the only leader who can unite all the people and groups, and push through reform", he tells me.

Eight years after leaving office, Hashemi Rafsanjani is poised to return as president. Opinion polls give him a healthy lead over his nearest rival, the hardline former Iranian police chief, Mohammad Qalibaf.

In Mr Qalibaf's campaign headquarters, his election strategists are selling their candidate as young, pragmatic and caring. The uniform and sidearm are gone, replaced by designer suits, rimless glasses and a smile.

(Mohammad Sadri speaking)

"Mr Qalibaf is not a hardliner or from the right wing", says campaign manager Mohammad Sadri (phonetic) "Yes, he is a fundamentalist, but don't you have fundamentals on which you base your life"? he asks me.

(Mohammad Sadri speaking)

"Mr Qalibaf is much younger and more energetic than Hashemi Rafsanjani. He is the future of Iran", Mr Sadri says.

One of four hardline former Revolutionary Guard members running for president, Mohammed Qalibaf is a favourite of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

By contrast, Hashemi Rafsanjani's relationship with the Supreme Leader has been described as poor, and there's talk that Ayatollah Khamenei did not want the former president to run again.

By Mr Rafsanjani's close associate, Mohammad Atrianfar dismisses that as disinformation spread by rivals.

(Mohammad Atrianfar speaking)

"With Mr Rafsanjani, things are different because he knows the conservative forces really well", he tells me. "He can talk to the Supreme Leader in a way so that the Supreme Leader will support reformist ideas", he says.

And without the Supreme Leader's support, no president of Iran can succeed. Just ask outgoing President Mohammed Khatami, who had his entire reform program stifled by conservative hardliners, backed by Ayatollah Khamenei.

This is Mark Willacy in Tehran for AM."

Run-off likely in Iran presidential election - Persian Journal Latest Iran news & Iranian Newspaper

2005-06-14T20:06:00.000-03:00

Run-off likely in Iran presidential election - Persian Journal Latest Iran news & Iranian Newspaper: "Iran News Jun 14th, 2005 - 09:08:11

Run-off likely in Iran presidential election
Jun 14, 2005
Reuters
Allies of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, front-runner in Iran's presidential race, said on Tuesday he would probably fall short of an outright win in polls on Friday which analysts say are the closest in the Islamic state's history.

Opinion polls show pragmatic conservative Rafsanjani, 70, is favorite to reclaim the post he held from 1989 to 1997.

But the mid-ranking cleric remains short of the 50 percent support needed to avoid a run-off against his nearest rival.

"It's increasingly unlikely that we'll have a winner after the first round," said political analyst Mahmoud Alinejad.

Rafsanjani's closest rivals are outspoken reformist Mostafa Moin, 54, a former higher education minister under outgoing President Mohammad Khatami, and former police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a conservative who is running as an independent.

The tight race has aroused greater interest in the country of 67 million people than many analysts had forecast. But many have still not decided if they will vote and, if they do, who to vote for.

"I want to place my ballot, but whatever I think about the eight nominees, I cannot find anything presenting my opinion," said Ali, 40, a carpet salesman in the Tehran bazaar. "That is the difficulty most Iranians are facing."

Rafsanjani is favored by Iran's business elite, who think he will liberalise the state-heavy economy, and by many in the West who believe he has the political weight to steer Iran's foreign policy toward better ties with the United States.

"Up to now the situation favors Rafsanjani, but reality is sometimes different," Gholamhossein Karbaschi, a former Tehran mayor and close ally of Rafsanjani, told Reuters. "He still doesn't have 50 percent.""

Bombs scare Iran voters, presidential race hots up

2005-06-13T23:36:00.000-03:00

a href="http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-06-13T085753Z_01_HO332245_RTRUKOC_0_IRAN.xml">World News Article | Reuters.co.uk: "Bombs scare Iran voters, presidential race hots up
Mon Jun 13, 2005 9:58 AM BST

By Alistair Lyon

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranians reacted with anger and fear on Monday to a rare string of bomb attacks that killed nine people and wounded more than 70 ahead of presidential elections.

Officials have blamed Sunday's attacks on exiled opposition groups seeking to deter Iranians from voting.

The death toll from an evening explosion in central Tehran rose to two overnight after one person died of his wounds, said Ali Aghamohammadi, Supreme National Security Council spokesman. He said two people remained on the critical list.

Workmen in the southwestern oil city of Ahvaz were repairing water pipes, power lines and buildings damaged in four blasts outside state offices that killed seven people and wounded 70.

Traffic swirled through the streets as normal, but the attacks clearly rattled many Iranians ahead of Friday's polls.

"I'm not going to vote. I'm afraid of another explosion. I think Friday will be a very dangerous day," said Ahmad Ali Yacoub, a 36-year-old government employee in Ahvaz.

Opinion polls show experienced pragmatist Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani leading in the race to replace outgoing reformist President Mohammad Khatami, who failed to overcome hardline resistance to reform during his eight years in office.

Despite widespread disenchantment among Iran's youthful population of 67 million, interest in the race has picked up with the reinstatement of reformer Mostafa Moin and the conservative vote split betweeen five contenders.

Iranian leaders have been urging a high turnout as a slap to domestic and foreign critics of restrictive electoral laws.

A survey by state broadcaster IRIB published on Monday reported that 73 percent of the electorate definitely planned to vote and another 6 percent would probably do so.

The turnout in last year's parliamentary election was 51 percent and around 67 percent in the 2001 presidential poll.

MAIN RIVALS

"Hardliners were so sure of victory, but it seems to me the main race will be between Rafsanjani and Moin," said Hamid Reza Jalaipour, political science lecturer at Tehran University.

"The reform movement has revived and people who were determined to ignore the elections have now started to think twice about voting, especially after Moin was qualified."

Angry hardliners hostile even to Rafsanjani might resort to violence "like yesterday's explosions", he told Reuters.

Others, however, blamed groups such as the exiled People's Mujahideen Organisation and foreign agents. "They have done this to create fear and uncertainty among people," Ghodratollah Alikhani, member of parliament's national security and foreign policy commission, told student news agency ISNA.

Rafsanjani, president from 1989 to 1997 and seen as the most moderate of the conservative candidates, remains well short of the 50 percent support he needs to avoid a run-off vote.

A poll published on Saturday showed that Moin, one of three reformists in the race, had edged ahead of former police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf to lie in second place.

The bombings in Ahvaz and Tehran jolted a country where such attacks have become a rarity in the past decade.

About 20 foreign journalists seized by Islamic vigilantes at the scene of the bombing in Tehran were released overnight after being held for about four hours, one of them said.

Two other devices exploded in central Tehran on Sunday evening, causing no casualties, and others were made harmless.

"So far we have defused four bombs in different neighbourhoods," Aghamohammadi said, without saying how they had been found. Some arrests had been made and more were expected.

He said security had been tightened on the border with Iraq, the suspected source of infiltrators, and Iranians should not be afraid to go to the polls.

Some in Ahvaz, like Ahmad Razi, 27, seemed receptive to such reassurances. "Those behind those blasts don't want us to vote. I'm scared, but I'll vote," he said.

Ahvaz is the capital of Khuzestan province, where five people died in ethnic unrest in April. Most of Iran's two million ethnic Arabs live in the Gulf province, which also sits on the bulk of the country's oil reserves.

Rahim Fazilatpour, deputy governor of Ahvaz, said three Arab groups had claimed responsibility for the bombings."

Tehran Times Political Desk Presidential Campaign report

2005-06-13T21:26:00.000-03:00

Description of Selected News: "Public opinion is the main power in every country: Moin

Tehran Times Political Desk
TEHRAN -- People can decide either to vote or not, but if they use their right to vote and elect their preferred candidate, their elected president should defend their rights, reformist presidential candidate Mostafa Moin said in Golpayegan, Isfahan Province on Sunday.

He went on to say that those who vote also should support their elected president because public opinion is the main power in every country.

He underlined the fact that the legitimacy of every government is obtained by the popular vote, noting that without the people’s vote the Islamic Republic would lose its legitimacy.

He also said that a Democracy and Human Rights Front as vast as all of Iran would be established, which would not be vulnerable and which would defend the people’s rights.

Next president must bridge the generation gap: Mehralizadeh

Iran is currently in need of happiness more than at any other time because the country is 65 percent young people, presidential candidate Mohsen Mehralizadeh told a gathering of students here on Monday.

People are not interested in political slogans and disputes and will only consider the records of candidates before casting their ballots, he added.

He went on to say that the efficient performance of managers has a positive impact on society, adding that Iran needs a president who can bridge the generation gap.

Mehralizadeh promised to establish a “Welfare Administration” that would be efficient, sovereign, and peace-seeking, and stated that his administration would focus on cultural, social, political, and economic development issues.

He also said that he would choose his cabinet ministers on the basis of their profession, age, and talent in order to establish a meritocracy. - Next president should be supported for national development: Ahmadinejad

Tehran Mayor Mahmud Ahmadinejad said at a press conference here on Monday that it is impossible to predict the result of the upcoming presidential election, but he believes that it is unlikely that there will be a runoff.

The conservative presidential candidate stated that the Iranian nation is a great nation with deep cultural and civilizational roots in history which is currently experiencing independence and freedom.

He also said that the Iranian nation has now decided to become a modern, sovereign, Islamic nation and is eager to play an honorable role in the world in the cultural, political, and economic spheres.

Ahmadinejad added that whoever the next president of the Iranian nation is, he must be supported by government officials in the promotion of national development.

He said that developing the administrative system, creating job opportunities, facilitating marriage and housing, and eliminating corruption and discrimination are some of his main priorities.

Answering a question on Iran’s relations with the United States, Ahmadinejad said that the Islamic Republic intends to develop friendly bilateral relations with all countries in the world, but after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the United States cut all ties with Iran and imposed economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic to pressurize the government and people.

In conclusion, the Tehran mayor emphasized that Iran’s foreign policy is based on developing and deepening friendly relations with the world, and said that Iran will give priority to relations with Muslim countries and those countries that have a friendly, respectful attitude toward the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Conservative candidates must reach consensus: Larijani

A new round of negotiations between conservative presidential candidates is underway which may prepare the way for a consensus, presidential hopeful Ali Larijani told the Mehr News Agency here on Sunday.

Later on Sunday, Larijani told a gathering of academicians that it would be to the benefit of both the conservatives and Iran if the conservative presidential candidates reached a consensus, and said he expects the conservative candidates to achieve a stronger, deeper political maturity.

Elaborating on the conservatives’ negotiations, he stated that he agrees with any suggestion which would lead to a consensus among the conservatives, but no result has been achieved so far.

He also noted that the path is clear for the development of science and technology in the country, adding that boosting Iran’s scientific and economic capacities is the best way to reduce all foreign threats and prepare the way for the realization of the final objectives of the 20-year Outlook Plan.

National atmosphere charged by election: Karrubi

Presidential hopeful Mahdi Karrubi told reporters here on Monday that the national atmosphere is charged by the imminent presidential election and the choice has become very complicated and critical for the people.

He said he believes that it is likely that there will be a runoff presidential election this year for the first time ever in Iran.

Karrubi condemned the recent explosions in different parts of Iran and stated that such terrorist acts were expected during the election campaign, but added that they will have no influence on the people’s vote or the turnout.

He also said he would fulfill his promises if elected president. ------------------People want next government to establish a meritocracy: Qalibaf

“People expect the government to talk less, implement the Constitution, respect the people’s rights, and establish a meritocracy in the country,” presidential candidate Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said in Gondbad City, Golestan Province on Monday.

According to the Constitution, the government must work for all ethnic groups, but, unfortunately, it has failed to do so, Qalibaf lamented.

He stated that the current situation in the country is the result of the actions of the previous administrations.

During the wartime, no one expected the government to do anything except direct the war and provide for the people, but nowadays people expect their government to pave the way for all-out development in all fields, he added.

Qalibaf went on to say that a great number of measures were taken under different names and approaches during the reconstruction and reform periods, but the problems still remain unsolved and must not be neglected any longer.

He also said that the country has unemployment and inflation problems, adding that government officials should accept that people have always faced a dilemma regarding economic versus political development and so should do their best to meet the people’s expectations."

Guardian Unlimited | World Latest | Iran Hard-Liners Fear Defeat in Election

2005-06-12T22:47:00.000-03:00

Guardian Unlimited | World Latest | Iran Hard-Liners Fear Defeat in Election: "Iran Hard-Liners Fear Defeat in Election

Friday June 10, 2005 8:16 AM
By ALI AKBAR DAREINI
Associated Press Writer
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - With a week to go before presidential elections, a strategist for Iran's hard-line politicians is advising several conservatives to drop out and unite behind a single candidate or face losing to the reformers.

But there is little sign any will pull out. That leaves them trailing and former president Hashemi Rafsanjani - who advocates improving relations with Washington - as the apparent front-runner.

Rafsanjani is presenting himself as the only candidate the world can rely on in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, which the Bush administration alleges is a front for developing atomic weapons.

He is running under the slogan ``Let's work together.'' It is interpreted as a conciliatory gesture, because he has moved frequently between the hard-line and moderate camps in a country where conservative clerics have maintained control despite strong electoral showings by reformers.

The June 17 election will choose a successor to outgoing President Mohammad Khatami, who came to power in 1997 but whose attempts to bring reforms were thwarted by hard-line clerics loyal to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khatami is barred by law from seeking a third term.

If no candidate gains 50 percent on June 17, a run-off between the two top vote-getters will be held a week later.

Hossein Shariatmadari, a close aide to Khamenei, has said publicly that the hard-line candidates have no chance of winning unless some withdraw.

``Should the four principal candidates withdraw in favor of one of them, their victory will be definite,'' said Shariatmadari, considered a strategist for the hard-line camp, in an editorial in his daily newspaper, Kayhan.

The hard-liners - former national police chief Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf; former radio and television chief Ali Larijani; Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; former head of the elite Revolutionary Guards Mohsen Rezaei - are all former military commanders.

Aides to Qalibaf and Larijani said neither planned to withdraw, and there were no signs the other two were considering stepping aside, either.

Another conservative candidate, parliamentary speaker Mahdi Karroubi, has some support among reform-minded voters who remain loyal to the clerical establishment. This contingent includes one-time hard-line clerics who have moderated their views.

The ruling clerics had hoped the June vote would consolidate their power. The Guardian Council, a watchdog for Iran's theocratic constitution, initially barred reformers from running. But Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters, forced the council to reverse that decision.

He apparently was worried that low turnout could undermine the ruling Islamic establishment and weaken its position in crucial negotiations with Europeans over Iran's nuclear program.

With the reformist movement severely weakened, Rafsanjani is seen as the most credible force to stop hard-liners from seizing the presidency.

Iran's most prominent reformist candidate, former culture and higher education minister Mostafa Moin, faces a potentially insurmountable hurdle in the expected low turnout of only around half of Iran's 48 million eligible voters.

His main supporters are Iran's young and women - a problem because part of Iran's student movement has decided to boycott the polls. Moin has responded by warning that a boycott could pave the way for a totalitarian state and just help hard-liners consolidate their grip.

He has focused his campaign on persuading disillusioned young people - who make up the majority of Iran's 70 million population - to go to the polls. Many have said they will stay away because they believe democratic reforms are impossible within the ruling Islamic establishment.

``Voting in the election will only give legitimacy to the ruling clerics,'' said student leader Abdollah Momeni."

Rafsanjani says comments on his wealth damaging, condemns Iran explosions

2005-06-12T21:23:00.000-03:00

Rafsanjani says comments on his wealth damaging, condemns Iran explosions: "Media Monitor

Rafsanjani says comments on his wealth damaging, condemns Iran explosions
Jun 12, 2005, 23:13 GMT

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. [Passage omitted: Interview with Rafsanjani on his policies and election manifesto]

[Announcer, Heydari] Mr [Akbar] Hashemi[-Rafsanjani], let's forget about the election for the time being. You have certainly heard on the news that today there were a number of explosions in Ahvaz and Tehran and that some damage was done as well. What message do you think such explosions convey in the run-up to the elections?

[Rafsanjani] Before answering you, allow me to say that there is a fundamental problem with these elections. Moreover, this is contrary to what the leader wants and what he has emphasized upon and what he has banned. Serious immoral acts are being perpetrated in these elections. I am saying this about my own situation. Today, I can see that millions of secret pamphlets are being distributed throughout the country. We know where the budget for this is coming from and who is distributing them. The worst possible allegations have been invented. I mean they are not even exaggerating what is already there. That is particularly true of financial matters and such things only damage the revolution. I don't think it is really important for me to defend myself.

However, this is what they think of someone who has always been with the revolution and if they think that this person has these problems or that his family is like that. For the first time, I would like to say something to the people by using this media outlet. Perhaps this will be the last time as well. You see, before the victory of the revolution, we drew upon our inherited wealth and we were affluent. After the revolution, we used our assets and we either spent it on the revolution or on the needy or our children to enable them to have their own homes and run their own lives.

Now, 27 years have passed since and the assets of my entire family is much less than what I had at the beginning of the revolution. For example, I had a 1,000 metre house in which I lived. Today, I don't even have that house. I do not have it. Of course, my children have divided it among themselves and built apartments and they live in them. I am telling those who make such claims and I am quite prepared to give them power of attorney as well. If the people who make such claims can prove this, they will be able to take possession of what they are talking about.

[Q] So if they find out about it, they can take possession of it.

[A] Yes, if it is there, they can take possession of it. As I said, what we have now is much less than what we had at the beginning of the revolution. We have given (the statistics?) to the Judiciary and the figures are there as well. Mr [Mohammad] Yazdi announced that the matter had been investigated and that the value of Mr Hashemi[Rafsanjani's] assets had declined his period in office.

Well, the state should be proud of that. We are talking about a person who had a free hand for 25 years, but who had reduced the value of his assets and those of his children. Now some people are talking like that. Of course, such things are primarily done by counter-revolutionaries. In these elections, other people are taking advantage of the situation and they are doing injustice to the state. There is demagoguery and the reality of the situation is being distorted. Ultimately, they will have to repent.

[Q] Yes, Mr Hashemi would like to say something about the explosions in the run-p to the elections?

[A] Well, yes, unfortunately, this was a bitter incident. These things happened in Ahvaz and in Tehran. This shows ho ruthless the enemies of the revolution are and that they are really resorting to violence and they a bear a grudge against us. They are trying to intimidate the people because they think that the people would not participate in the elections. That is why they are doing these things. It is clear that this will backfire.

When Iraqi aircraft were flying over our heads and when missiles were coming at us, the people were taking part in the elections in large numbers. Now, not much will be changed because of a few bombs. I hope that the ruthless nature of our enemies will be moderated. The world will have to judge for itself and it should try to see who really is a terrorist. Iran has always been a victim of terrorism and this thing is still continuing. I would like to send my condolences to those who were injured and the families of those who were killed in those incidents.

[Q] Yes, thank you very much Mr Hashemi for appearing on the special news interview. [Passage omitted: On the announcer summing up Rafsanjani's comments during the programme]

Source: Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 2, Tehran, in Persian 1800 gmt 12 Jun 05

BBC Mon ME1 MEPol bg

Copyright 2005 BBC Monitoring Service distributed by United Press International"

Iranian students Who Pay For Education Favor Rafsanjani Overwhelmingly

2005-06-12T17:18:00.000-03:00

Iran Focus-News - Iran (General) - Disillusioned Iranian students sulk away from the ballots: "Disillusioned Iranian students sulk away from the ballots Sun. 12 Jun 2005

AFP
TEHRAN - The mood in Iran's universities has plunged to a new low, with students who once voted in droves for reform staying away from next week's presidential election after a string of hammer blows to their hopes.

Despite providing a crucial support base for President Mohammad Khatami's two election victories, the slow pace of reform, arrests and continued crackdowns by vigilantes have left many students in a state of indifferent fury.

"The students appear the least willing to go to the polls, even less than the last parliamentary elections," said Abdollah Momeni, a leader in the office to consolidate unity, Iran's largest pro-democracy student group.

The group has called for a boycott of the June 17 election, "as a reformist act to show we don't want to provide the system with legitimacy" said Momeni.

"It is not that we don't care but it's a conscious decision that means we don't approve of the system," he said.

Momeni said students are disillusioned with reformists who "have given in to pressures from conservatives in order to stay in power at any cost and have lost their popular support."

Scores of students have been arrested and jailed in recent years. The hardline vigilantes have cracked down on their gatherings and beaten them up.

With suspended jail terms hanging over their heads, many student leaders and activists have chosen to shut up for fear of being hauled back to prison again.

In December 2004, when Khatami last appeared at a university meeting, he was booed and heckled with shouts of "Khatami shame on you", "Khatami we detest you" and "Khatami, our votes were wasted on you".

"Reformists have played all their cards to attract students' support: creating fake excitement, propaganda, hollow promises and inciting fear of the other party," Momeni said.

"Now they say if you don't vote for us the fascists will emerge and ruin everything and provoke foreign attacks," was his response to last-minute reformist pleas for students to vote.

Architecture student Shahab Ghandehari, 24, is one of the millions who swept Khatami into office in 1997 and 2001.

"I am not sure if our votes are going to change anything," he said, adding that an air of indifference was prevailing at Tehran University.

"The reformists have failed to come up with a charismatic candidate and the rest are pretty much the same," he said. "I might cast a blank vote or even vote for Moin, as if military men win they will be only concerned with security and not freedom".

Many students questioned on Tehran campuses said they were not going to vote but there were occasional nods for reformist candidate Mostafa Moin, ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and former police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

"What has any of them done to convince me I should go to the ballots again?" asked Hamid, a mathematics student.

Manijeh, 21, a chador-clad student of economics is among the few who favour the hardline Qalibaf, who is promoting himself as a populist technocrat.

"He is well-dressed, young and above all he is not a cleric. He has done a good job with the (police) force," she said.

Mohammad, a graduate student of electronics in Tehran's prestigious Sharif University, said he could not care less about the election.

"We are frustrated, we have had enough of lip service and no real reforms," he said, adding he wants to apply to Canadian or US universities for a PhD, following the route taken by many of his friends.

At a branch of Azad University, where unlike in state universities students pay hefty tuition fees, the atmosphere is more in favor of Rafsanjani.

"It is because of our families. It is not easy for my father to pay so much money for my schooling," said Maryam Jalali, 22.

She pays about 4,200,000 rials (about 500 dollars) for every semester to win a degree in food technology -- but like so many of her fellow students the hard-earned qualification may never get her a job.

"Rafsanjani is powerful and he might be able to fix things," she said."

Reuters.com: Rafsanjani campaign ad angles for Iran youth vote

2005-06-12T14:24:00.000-03:00

International News Article | Reuters.com: "Rafsanjani campaign ad angles for Iran youth vote
Sun Jun 12, 2005 09:39 AM ET

By Amir Paivar
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Presidential candidate Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani discussed fashion, sex and Islam in a rare televised chat with a panel of youngsters, ahead of an election marked by a battle for Iran's huge youth vote.

The broadcast late on Saturday was a deftly-edited election campaign ad, but nevertheless was highly unusual in the Islamic state, where officials seldom expose themselves to such questioning by the young.

Like other conservative candidates in the race, Rafsanjani, a mid-ranking cleric, is trying to rebrand himself as a liberal in a country where half of the 67 million population is under 25 and the voting age is 15.

Rafsanjani, 70, who held the presidency between 1989 and 1997, told a panel of about 20 young men and women, some in all-enveloping black chador, some in colorful scarves, that they should have more choice in what they wear.

"Design and color depends on people's taste ... there should be clothes, but no nudity!" Rafsanjani told the round-table discussion group, which burst into laughter.

The Islamic Republic has strict rules on women's dress, ordering them to cover their hair and disguise the shape of their bodies. But restrictions relaxed somewhat after reformist President Mohammad Khatami took office in 1997.

Asked what he thought about relationships between the sexes, Rafsanjani said religion should be no barrier.

"In the Islam I know, if implemented, no one would feel limited in their instincts," said Rafsanjani who has in the past spoken in favor of temporary marriage -- a practice that allows Shi'ite Muslims to wed for as little as a few minutes.

The campaign ad contrasted with those of the other seven candidates, which have mostly consisted of straight interviews touching on issues ranging from unemployment to foreign policy.

Former police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who most polls put second behind Rafsanjani, has perhaps the slickest campaign ads so far, featuring him co-piloting a commercial passenger jet and addressing town-hall style meetings.

Each candidate is allowed to air two half-hour ads on the state broadcasting network before Friday's vote.

DISILLUSIONED YOUTH
Young Iranians and Rafsanjani laughed together at tame jokes about the wily elder statesman and quizzed him on rumors that he has amassed great personal wealth. He shrugged off the charges, saying anyone who could prove such assets was free to keep whatever they found.

But Rafsanjani's question and answer session with the group, the selection criteria for which was unclear, came to a climax with a tearful account from one girl in a purple headscarf who expressed weary disgust at life in Iran.

"I want to tell you I am not going to vote ... I don't want to be deceived," said Parisa Azizpour, 23, who appeared to represent many young Iranians disillusioned with politics.

Azizpour said she was questioned by her family for arriving home late and harassed by university doormen for what she wore.

Rafsanjani, wiping tears from his eyes, was silent for a few moments before collecting himself to urge the young to voice their feelings by voting.

But it all ended on a happy note with the youths shown applauding and smiling. Even the originally glum Azizpour broke into a smile and clapped.

© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved."

Presidential elections from standpoint of Constitution - Irna

2005-06-12T14:18:00.000-03:00

Presidential elections from standpoint of Constitution - Irna: "Presidential elections from standpoint of Constitution Tehran, June 12, IRNA
9th Presidential Election-Constitution -- (1)
Under Iran's Constitution, presidential election includes several stages, beginning with a formal declaration of candidacy, moving on through a vetting of qualifications and finally a popular vote.

Each Iranian reaching maturity can declare his readiness to be a candidate. Then the Guardian Council, the official interpreter of the Constitution, must review his qualifications for the presidential post. The Guardian Council vouches the competency of the nominees in accordance with the guidelines and conditions laid down in the Constitution. Having investigated the individuals, the Council announces the names of the nominees that are candidates for the presidential elections.

The Islamic Republic of Iran's Constitution says the president should be prudent and wise, with track record in an executive position. Presidential candidates should have a firm belief in the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran and should be faithful to the Constitution. The president is elected by popular vote. He must win an absolute majority, more than 50 percent of the votes cast, in the first phase of the elections. If none of the candidates gains a simple majority in the first round of voting, then a second vote will take place on Friday of the following week. The second round is limited to the two candidates who received the greatest number of votes in the first round. The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran says any Iranian, above the age of 15, can take part in the process and freely vote for the candidate of his or her choice.

A total of 45 million eligible voters are expected to vote in the 9th presidential election. They will freely choose their candidate.

Formation of a cabinet is one of the most important duties of the president, who serves as the chief executive. The president selects qualified individuals for posts and suggests them to the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis). The Majlis investigates the qualifications of these individuals. They sometimes accept a complete slate as proposed by the president, giving the group a vote of confidence. Sometimes they evaluate them on an individual basis. If 10 of the lawmakers reject one of the proposed ministers, the Majlis should arrange a parliamentary polling for a vote of confidence.

The president becomes the Chief Executive through the formation of his government. If the president himself becomes the subject of the accusations of shortcoming, failure, betraying the country or if he suffers through a major political problem, the Majlis can dismiss him.

This requires the agreement of at least two-thirds of the lawmakers.

This was the case with Iran's first president after the Islamic Revolution, Abolhassan Banisadr. The Majlis removed him, based on the Constitution. Though separating the three branches of government, the Islamic Republic of Iran's Constitution deems the Majlis -- the representative of the public -- responsible for monitoring the president and his government. The chief executive is always responsible to the Majlis, because of this same reasoning.

Under the Islamic Republic of Iran's Constitution, the three branches of government are separate from each other. None of the three branches of government -- the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary -- have the right to interfere in each other's affairs.

There are specific exceptions to this general rule, outlined by the Constitution. The Executive branch's relationship to the Legislative branch is a type of monitoring, a supervisory relationship. The Majlis supervises the government's performance and is alert to the execution of all duties of the ministers. The cabinet must carry out its duties. If in fact a minister fails to fulfill his obligations, it is sufficient for 10 lawmakers to offer a written request to the speaker of the Majlis. They ask for an investigation of the minister's qualifications. On certain occasions, the Majlis might intervene in the affairs of the Executive Branch, based on the Constitution. The Legislative branch confirms or rejects the annual state budget, compiled and presented by the head of the state. The Executive Branch offers the Budget to the Majlis for approval or referral to the president after investigation. Issues between the Legislative and Executive branches must be settled within a specific time. If a dispute becomes complicated and the two branches fail to reach an agreement, the case is referred to the Expediency Council. However, the Executive and Judiciary branches are completely independent of each other. It is just about impossible for either one to interfere in the other's affairs. But in an exceptional case, any digression on any individual's part, irrespective of post or rank, based on the law the Judiciary has the responsibility to act.

They inform the accused individual of charges brought against him or her, and try the individual. The Judiciary has the right to supervise the performance of the Executive Branch within the framework of the law.

Presidential elections in Iran are one of the most important elections in Iran. The election are of importance because the Executive Branch has a direct relationship with life of the public and has major impact on their social and economic well-being.

Therefore, the nation shows more sensitivity towards the presidential elections in Iran. In Islamic Iran, the presidential elections were held after establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran's system. Now the Iranian nation is about to take part in the 9th presidential elections. The number of participants in each presidential elections has been different. The least number of voters was recorded in 1993 when 52 percent of the eligible voters turned out. The highest number of voters for the elections was recorded in 1997 when 80 percent of the eligible voters had turned out in the process. Therefore, although differences are observed in terms of voter turnout in the presidential elections, it can be said that 64 percent of the eligible voters had on average participated in different presidential elections in Iran. An important point affecting elections, was the elections for the second terms of Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani's presidential and also of Mr. Khatami. The voter turnout for both depleted in the second term compared to the first term and this is something usual in Iran's elections. The elections ahead are one of the elections than can open a new chapter for our nation. But most political observers believe that the voter turnout rate will not be less than 55 percent because chronology of the elections in Iran shows the voter turnout is on the rise.

Public participation in the elections is important and officials give weight to the issue, following it seriously. Since the process is democratic in basis, marks a sort of collaboration and solidarity between the system and the nation. The nation keeps following the system as long as it moves in line with interests of the nation. The nation elects the officials of its choice to act in line with its wishes. But in case of government's pubic defiance, the nation would have the right to refuse participation in the elections and boycott it. That's the natural right of any nation. Therefore, massive turnout of the public in the elections shows the nation's continued approval of the democratic process and its hope that the essential channel for materialization of its demand is the system. This has been the case in all the elections held in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the least number of the voters has been even higher than 50 percent. The case with Iran runs contrary to that in many so-called democratic Western states, where the voter turnout rate even lowers to 30 or 40 percent.

In another words, high public turnout in the elections is a sign of nation's hope on the system and their support for continuation of the community-system cooperation. This shows that the nation gives the chance to the system to meet public demands. But if the nation feels the government has stopped meeting public wishes, they would have the right not to take part in the elections and boycott it. The main point with the people since early days of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran has been their high turnout in the elections. In all the elections the voter turnout has been higher than 50 percent.

This shows that contrary to many so-called democratic states, the democratic process in Iran has been following a good process.

Another issue is that the political system in Iran is the product of an Islamic and popular revolution. It would be highly natural for the Revolution to insist on maintaining its popular base.

Hence public participation has been one of the basic variables.

So, serious plans should be adopted for permanent presence of the public on the political scene.

Participation is the core of any political system. Participation means the active presence of the populace in the political process.

This of course extends to voting. In the first through seventh presidential elections held in the Islamic Republic, almost unknown figures came on the scene and raised their platform. In the seventh elections the final number of candidates was eventually restricted to four. Relatively new figures distinguished themselves. Despite holding such posts as the minister of culture and Islamic guidance and also being the head of the National Library, Mr. Khatami was a newcomer to politics. He offered a new viewpoint on the political scene, and was warmly accepted by the voters of Iran. Despite the presence of four candidates in the seventh elections, one can say that essentially, there were only two approaches. These were specifically those of Mr.

Khatami and Mr. Nateq-Nouri.

In the eighth elections, the number of candidates for the presidency increased. In that round, candidates from governmental organizations participated. This does not however, mean the entry of new figures or unknown individuals, with heretofore-unannounced views.

The ninth elections will be held in a new atmosphere. This is the result of changes within the Iranian community after two terms of Khatami's presidency. The stage is set for totally new figures, who will offer new plans, plans compatible with social problems.

The presentation of new individuals at this juncture is worth investigation. In other words, the current needs of the country, both domestically and internationally, prompted the introduction of these candidates. Each one of them represents different views and approaches, as well as different solutions. The people will review the expectations and views of all. On the whole, it can be said that the new figures in these ninth elections reflect the existence of different views. These opinions concern the management of society and the willingness to resolve the problems of Iran. The presence of a definite, realistic program in the political, economic, cultural and diplomatic fields leads to a positive feeling. It is indicative of the dynamic interest of Iranians in deciding their fate.

The triumph of the Islamic Revolution, led by Imam Khomeini, changed the core of Iran's foreign policy, as well as the nature of the government and the domestic atmosphere. Iran followed a non- aligned strategy through the adoption of the `Neither-East-Nor-West' policy. The country disassociated itself from the eastern and western blocks. It left the Central Treat Organization (CENTO) and joined the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Iran cancelled arms purchase treaties from the West, following a policy independent of the big powers, a policy based on simultaneous disengagement.

1420/2322/1432"

The Observer | Devout Voters Reject The Heresy of the Moin Campaign - Nabavi Beaten By Voters for attacks On Islam

2005-06-12T00:29:00.000-03:00

The Observer | International | Iran liberals beaten up as poll nears: "Iran liberals beaten up as poll nears

Robert Tait in Rasht
Sunday June 12, 2005
The Observer
Leaders of Iran's embattled political reform movement have been targeted for violent attacks by pro-regime vigilantes in the run-up to this week's presidential election.
In the most graphic example, Behzad Nabavi, a former parliamentary speaker, was beaten bloody as he tried to address a meeting in the holy city of Qom, the headquarters of the country's leading Islamic clergymen.

Nabavi, a prominent member of the Islamic Revolution Mojahedin Organisation, was heckled then attacked by religious extremists as he tried to give a speech in support of Mostafa Moein, the leading reformist candidate. Witnesses said about 120 young men, bearded and wearing similar clothes, surrounded Nebavi as he tried to leave the meeting. They chanted: 'Poor Nabavi has nowhere to run', and then attacked him.

The pro-reform newspaper, Shargh, ran a front page picture yesterday showing Nabavi with a black eye and a gashed forehead as a result of last Thursday's beating.

The attack highlights the plight of Iran's reformers as President Mohammed Khatami, their leading advocate, prepares to surrender power after two terms in which he has largely failed to deliver promised changes in the face of staunch opposition from the establishment.

It was one of a series of beatings meted out to reformers, which demonstrate the determination of religious conservatives to retain power.

Another Moein supporter, Alireza Rajai, a member of the reformist National Religious Forces, was viciously beaten after a speech in Fajr in Hamadan province. Members of Moein's election team have threatened to stage a sit-in outside the governor's office unless the lives of its workers can be assured.

Mohsen Armin, a former reformist MP and member of Nabavi's group, complained to the Interior Ministry after hecklers broke up one of his meetings in Boroujerd, in southern Iran.

Another reform candidate, Mehdi Karroubi, was interrupted when he tried to address supporters in Qom.

In a clear indication of where the authorities' sympathies lie, only two of Nabavi's attackers were arrested. In contrast, four Moein supporters at the meet ing were arrested and detained in a police compound usually reserved for drug offenders. They were later released.

Vigilantes have frequently been deployed to intimidate reformers since Khatami unexpectedly swept to power in 1997. They attacked pro-reform students at Tehran University in 1999. This provoked widespread protests which were suppressed by the security forces.

Moein, a former higher education minister under Khatami, was only allowed to contest Friday's election after the intervention of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He had been disqualified - with more than 1,000 other candidates - by the powerful Guardian's Council, an unelected religious watchdog that assesses candidates' loyalty to the Islamic system.

Although not expected to win, his support - reckoned by pollsters at around 10 per cent - could weaken the frontrunner, the pragmatic former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is opposed by Khamenei.

The polls suggest Rafsanjani is unlikely to gain the absolute majority needed to win on the first ballot, forcing him into a run-off with one of the four hardliners in the eight-man field.

The most likely scenario would pit Rafsanjani against his nearest challenger, Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, a former Revolutionary Guard air force commander and ex-national police chief.

Qalibaf is running a populist campaign that aims to exploit his photogenic qualities, and promising to tackle economic corruption.

Yesterday he staged an American-style campaign rally in the northern city of Rasht. Addressing an audience in which men and women were segregated, he was cheered as he said Iran had been held back by a concentration of economic power in the hands of a small elite.

But the biggest cheer came when he congratulated the Iranian football team on beating Bahrain 1-0 last Wednesday, and qualifying for next year's World Cup finals in Germany."

Tehran Times Political Desk - Election Countdown

2005-06-12T00:20:00.000-03:00

Description of Selected News: "Election Countdown

Tehran Times Political Desk
Iran’s management system still not a meritocracy: Qalibaf

Tehran (MNA) -- Presidential candidate Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said in Roudsar, Gilan Province on Saturday that overall, management in the country is not satisfactory.

What has happened in Iran’s economy under the name of ‘privatization’ was more like abandoning the economy, he added.

He also noted that he would have never run for president if he had not been certain about his ability to take effective measures for the sake of people.

Speaking to a gathering of people in Lahijan and Astaneh Ashrafieh later on Saturday, Qalibaf said that Iran’s management system is still not a meritocracy.

If the managers corrected their behavior and encouraged public participation in all economic and political spheres, the problems would be solvable, he observed.

Cultural assets guarantee stable development: Mehralizadeh

Presidential hopeful Mohsen Mehralizadeh said on Saturday that scientific and pragmatic attention to cultural assets helps materialize the general welfare of society, adding that cultural and economic development are interrelated and cultural assets guarantee stable development.

Speaking to a gathering of teachers in Robat Karim, Tehran Province, he stated that teachers, artists, university professors, and other cultured people are undoubtedly the real assets of Iran and they should be honored.

The pragmatic reformist candidate referred to the youth of Iranian society and the educating a new generation, saying that the government should pay special attention to teachers in order to empower the educational system and to make optimal use of all potential and opportunities.

Teachers are best forces to confront cultural invasion: Rafsanjani

Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani told a gathering of exemplary teachers here on Friday that teachers are the best means through which to confront cultural invasion.

The presidential candidate went on to say that the global arrogance is determined to conduct cultural invasions throughout the world by fomenting ethnic strife, so Iranians should use their own means to pave the way for the development of Quranic culture in other societies.

Emphasizing the fact that the Islamic Revolution is a cultural revolution, he said that Iranian people overthrew the Pahlavi regime with this cultural attitude and so still have the same attitude.

Considering all its aspects, Islam is a comprehensive religion which begins with culture and ends with prosperity, he added.

Economy is the cause of all moral, cultural corruption: Larijani

Presidential candidate Ali Larijani said in Arak, Central Province on Friday that real reforms can be defined as fighting against corruption, poverty, and discrimination.

He stated that creating job opportunities for the youth and fighting against inflation, discrimination, corruption, and injustice would be some of the main priorities of his ‘Hope Administration’ and added that all cultural and moral problems in society have their roots in the economy.

He also referred to the young generation as the engine of national economic development and added that paying special attention to the benefits of giving the youth some important responsibilities can help to transform the country.

Boosting the standard of living is dependent on the votes in the upcoming election, which he believes will be a harbinger of a bright future, Larijani said.

Moin should have coordinated visit with EU ambassadors with Foreign Ministry: MP

Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Chairman Ala’ddin Borujerdi said here on Saturday that besides being a presidential candidate, Mostafa Moin is an official, so his recent visit with European Union ambassadors should have been coordinated with the Foreign Ministry.

Moin was once a cabinet minister and is now a presidential advisor.

A number of European ambassadors to Tehran met the leading reformist presidential candidate on Thursday."

Iran's leader-in-waiting voices democratic dream - Sunday Times - Times Online

2005-06-12T00:17:00.001-03:00

Iran�s leader-in-waiting voices democratic dream - Sunday Times - Times Online: "The Sunday Times - World

June 12, 2005
Iran’s leader-in-waiting voices democratic dream
Ali Bandari, Tehran

THE former Iranian leader, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, is poised to come first in Friday’s presidential election after a campaign that has raised prospects of improved relations with the West.

Although he is now the frontrunner, Rafsanjani is unlikely to secure enough votes to win the presidency outright and faces a second poll.

He wears the same clerical attire as the religious leaders who have long railed against America — the “Great Satan” — but has promised to breathe life into Iran’s ailing economy by breaking down the cultural and economic barriers that have isolated the Islamic republic from the West.

His election pamphlets promise a “transition to democracy” and he has spoken openly of implementing social reforms, including the repeal of a ban on women’s attendance at football matches.

Such talk has made him enemies, however — among them Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, who has pointedly urged voters to elect a president who will defend the ideals of the Islamic republic.

Rafsanjani, 70, the president from 1989-97, has emphasised there is “no doubt that America is a superpower of the world and we cannot ignore them”, adding that Iran has “never pioneered enmities”.

Relations with the West, however, were far from rosy during Rafsanjani’s previous reign. In 1997 the European Union severed diplomatic links with Iran after a German court blamed Rafsanjani and other prominent figures in Tehran for the murder of Kurdish dissidents at a Berlin restaurant in 1992.

Even Rafsanjani’s pro-western incarnation is unlikely to give any ground over the Islamic republic’s nuclear plans. The West accuses Tehran of pursuing a weapons programme, but Rafsanjani recently claimed that yielding to western demands would be “like giving away part of our territory”. Most Iranians believe their country is acting in its best economic interests, in accordance with obligations under international treaties.

Nevertheless, Rafsanjani’s rhetoric sounds positively forward-thinking in a country where anti-American criticism is so prevalent that Khamenei has called on his people to vote for the candidate “with whom the enemy is least happy”.

The Rafsanjani campaign has captured the imagination of a public tired of global isolation and seemingly endless financial woes. Mohammad Khatami, the outgoing president, leaves behind him a collective wariness of hollow promises. His two-term presidency was marred by a string of frustrated reforms and a slow erosion of liberal powers in the Majlis, or parliament.

Rather than abandon their hopes for improved quality of life, most Iranians are simply adjusting their aspirations. Economic rather than cultural reforms are now seen as the most likely path to social stability — a change of mood that has helped Rafsanjani to a 27% opinion poll rating, making him the clear leader in a field of eight candidates.

He is also helped by his well-cultivated image as a pragmatic conservative who straddles both ends of the political spectrum. While rivals’ campaign posters depict them in Rodinesque states of contemplation, Rafsanjani’s show him striding resolutely into the future.

His determination is seen as the antidote to eight years of floundering by Khatami, a frustrated intellectual who once telephoned the supreme leader to ask if he could shake President Bill Clinton’s hand at the United Nations. Permission was denied.

Rafsanjani’s camp has made a concerted effort to appeal to Iran’s beleaguered liberals. Pictures of him chatting openly with boys and girls in “un-Islamic” attire were published by enraged conservative websites but served only to improve his popularity among the young.

When Khamenei intervened last month to reinstate two disqualified reformist candidates, Mostafa Moin and Mohsen Mehralizadeh, to the electoral roster many saw it as an underhand attempt to dilute Rafsanjani’s chances of victory.

Moin, a former higher education minister campaigning on a platform of press, public and political freedoms, surged into second place in a poll published yesterday. However, if no one wins 50% of the votes on Friday, as seems likely, the top two candidates will face each other in a run-off.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the mayor of Tehran, is the only presidential candidate to have made no attempt to appeal to liberal voters, although his radicalism — exemplified by a pledge to chop off the hands of corrupt officials — has brought him popularity among traditionalists."

Iran's leader-in-waiting voices democratic dream - Sunday Times - Times Online

2005-06-12T00:17:00.000-03:00

People's Daily Online Says Moin moves up to second place over Qalibaf. Rafsanjani still has Big Lead

2005-06-12T00:13:00.000-03:00

People's Daily Online -- Rafsanjani, Moin lead in run-up to presidential elections: poll: "UPDATED: 09:41, June 12, 2005
Rafsanjani, Moin lead in run-up to presidential elections: poll

A poll has shown that former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and former Higher Education Minister Mostafa Moin are leading in run-up to the presidential elections, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.

The poll, held by IRNA, showed that 27.1 percent of 45,834 eligible participants said they would vote for Rafsanjani while 18.9 percent for Moin. Rafsanjani, a powerful veteran of the Islamic Revolution and pragmatic conservative, has been the front runner according to most of polls held since he hinted that he would stand in the race earlier this year.

Otherwise, 16.5 percent voted for former police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and former Majlis (parliament) Speaker Mehdi Karroubi gained 10.8 percent.

Former Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad followed with just 7.7 percent of the votes but still ahead of former head of the state broadcasting body Ali Larijani, Vice President Mohsen Mehralizadeh and former head of the Revolutionary Guards Mohsen Rezai.

As for outcome of the presidential race, 20.4 percent said Qalibaf would win, and Rafsanjani comes second with 20.1 percent, and Moin won 17.3 percent.

Meanwhile, 54.8 percent said they would "definitely" participate in the voting against 7.9 percent who said they would not do so.

Iran's ninth presidential elections will be held on June 17. Incumbent President Mohammad Khatami is ruled out from the race because the law bans anyone from seeking a consecutive third term.

Source: Xinhua"

Wired News | Even Rafsanjani will struggle to end U.S.-Iran feud

2005-06-12T00:10:00.000-03:00

Wired News | Even Rafsanjani will struggle to end U.S.-Iran feud: "Even Rafsanjani will struggle to end U.S.-Iran feud

Saturday, June 11, 2005 9:03 p.m. ET
By Christian Oliver

TEHRAN (Reuters) - In 1974 an Iranian cleric made a road trip across the United States, stopping to marvel at giant redwood trees or peer through the gates of Hollywood villas.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani later wrote in his memoirs that he was revolted by the loose morals of Americans, but that there was much Iran could learn from their political freedoms.

Thirty one years later, if anyone is going to dare take up the challenge of restoring diplomatic ties with Washington, severed in 1980, it is likely to be the wily, well-traveled Rafsanjani, tipped to win the June 17 presidential election.

There are votes in courting the "Great Satan."

"The worst thing this regime ever did was to allow our ties with the United States to vanish," said Abbas, a history teacher in Tehran. "We feel left out in the cold, like children who have not been invited to a party."

Other presidential candidates like Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Mohsen Rezaie, former commanders in the hardline Revolutionary Guards, are also saying the era of half-hearted detente with the West must end. A real thaw is needed.

But can any of them produce the masterful diplomacy needed to win Uncle Sam's favor?

Washington severed ties in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic revolution, when radical students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.

Branded part of the "axis of evil," Iran is under U.S. trade sanctions, accused of seeking nuclear arms and of funding armed anti-Israeli groups. Tehran denies the charges.

Washington blames Iran for the 1996 "Khobar Towers" bomb attack in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 U.S. servicemen.

PERSISTENCE

Rafsanjani has a long track record in dealing with the United States.

During the 1980s he was a key middleman in the "Iran Contra" scandal, when Washington secretly sold arms to Iran, then at war with Iraq, in return for Tehran's help in securing the release of U.S. hostages in Lebanon.

Rafsanjani tried to break the ice in 1995, offering U.S. oil firm Conoco a $1 billion natural gas deal. President Bill Clinton rebuffed him.

Columbia University's Gary Sick, a White House Iran aide during the hostage crisis, said Rafsanjani's persistence in seeking a rapprochement with Washington was significant.

"In Iran Contra, the U.S. did not pay back its side of the bargain and the Conoco offer to develop offshore gas blew up in his face," he told Reuters.

"He has had nothing but bad experiences but he keeps trying. This is something he clearly believes in.

"He is a businessman first and foremost and genuinely believes the way to rapprochement is through the pocket and making offers.

"However the U.S.-Iran problem is bigger than that. It is primarily ideological and cannot be solved by appealing to greed," Sick said, adding there was a vocal camp in the U.S. Congress that has vowed never to speak to Iran.

LITTLE U.S. APPETITE FOR THAW

Rafsanjani has said the United States must take the first step by freeing up billions of dollars of Iranian assets frozen in U.S. accounts after the revolution.

But diplomats and analysts say Washington is unlikely to be the first to move. Its focus remains on insisting that Iran stop making nuclear fuel.

"Iran would not give this up unless the political rewards were huge. Only the U.S. can deliver such rewards and it does not see any reason why it should do so," said Rosemary Hollis of the Royal Institute of International Affairs.

U.S. oil majors are showing little interest in the world's second largest oil reserves. Iran's oil contract terms have proved disappointing to the European oil firms working there.

U.S. ally Israel is at the heart of the problem, as a likely target of any nuclear weapon Iran might build.

"Perhaps the problem is not nuclear weapons per se but the security of Israel. Iran could help by clearly accepting a two-state solution," said one Tehran-based diplomat.

But Sick did not see Iran ending its hostility to Israel.

"This was so much part of the revolution," he said.

The vitriolic public rhetoric of the last quarter-century seems destined to continue for now.

The U.S. embassy still stands, albeit remodeled as the "nest of spies" and painted with ghoulish, skull-faced Statues of Liberty.

It does have a nice central location, if the Americans ever decide to come back."

Poll shows Iran's presidential election field wide open (Adds more) - Irna

2005-06-11T15:35:00.000-03:00

Poll shows Iran's presidential election field wide open (Adds more) - Irna: "Poll shows Iran's presidential election field wide open (Adds more) Tehran, June 11, IRNA
Election-Iran-Survey
The presidential battle in Iran later this month is wide open, according to an IRNA poll, which shows the former higher education minister Mostafa Moin closing in on Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

In the polling 45,834 participants across 25 battleground provinces, Rafsanjani won 27.1 percent of the votes against 18.9 percent garnered by Moin.

The results came when the respondents where asked, "Whom you will vote for?"
But when asked who they thought would win the election, 20.4 percent said the former police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf would.

Rafsanjani would come second with 20.1 percent of the votes ahead of Moin who won 17.3 percent when the same question was put to the respondents.

Otherwise, 16.5 percent of those participating in the poll voted for Qalibaf ahead of the former parliament speaker Mehdi Karroubi with 10.8 percent.

Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad trailed with just 7.7 percent of the votes ahead of the former head of the state broadcasting Ali Larijani, Vice President Mohsen Mehralizadeh (5.9 percent) and the former head of the revolutionary guards Mohsen Rezai (4.7 percent).

However, none of the aspirants to replace President Mohammad Khatami would muster the 50 percent vote needed for an outright win in order to avoid a runoff election between the top two contenders, according to the poll.

In the polling, 54.8 percent of the respondents said they would 'definitely' participate in the election against 7.9 percent who said they would not take part.

Meanwhile, 43.3 percent said they believed the poll would attract a 'very large number' of the voters to the ballot boxes against 17.3 percent who thought otherwise.

Some 49.8 percent of the respondents aged between 15 and 29 years old, with the rest answering in the catagory of 30 years and above.

Khatami's eight-year tenure, who won a landslide reelection in 2001, was far from plain-sailing, and he repeatedly complained of lacking enough power to deliver on his promises.

Khatami saw his bid to prop up presidential powers quashed after two of his bills failed to make it through the screening of the country's supervisory apparatus.

He is nearing the end of his second consecutive term and the Constitution bars him from serving more than two consecutive mandates.

With campaigning already in full swing, there have been reports of attacks on reformists, including former deputy parliament speaker Behzad Nabavi, .

The Iranian press Saturday was awash with reports about the attack of an unknown group on Nabavi in the holy city of Qom where he had delivered a speech in support of Moin.

Moin as well as Mehralizadeh just squeaked into the list of the candidates after the Guardian Council initially disqualified them.

The two were among more than 1,000 aspirants who were disqualified from the election.

Nabavi's picture with a black eye and a cut to his head was splashed across several papers on the front page Saturday.

The attacks came even as Iran's Interior Ministry threatened Tuesday to disclose 'startling' tactics which 'certain candidates' had adopted ahead of the presidential election.

The ministry's spokesman Jahanbakhsh Khanjani cited cases of 'attack on certain election headquarters and their supporters, involving insult and battery, as well as interference of certain institutions and organizations in the electoral process'.

"If these violations exceed the limits, we will talk more transparently and expressly in the coming days," the official warned in a news conference.

"Certain candidates are audaciously throwing the achievements of the (Islamic) Revolution into question," he said, without elaborating.

An IRNA correspondent had seen a bevy of cars, carrying posters of a presidential candidate in the upmarket San'at square in northwestern Tehran, with some of them playing loud Western music in broad daylight, much to the surprise of the onlookers.

"It is surprising that some individuals, who claim to be defending the existing establishment, have resorted to such tactics," Khanjani said.

"The achievements of the Islamic Revolution must not be brought into question for a handful of extra votes," he added.

The Interior Minister spokesman also cited cases of electoral violations, including placing billboards in public sites in the capital, saying the police and municipality had been turning a blind eye to them.

"During the previous parliamentary election, all the billboards of a certain political current were removed overnight, but it is questionable that this is not the case this time around.

"Tehran Municipality and Police not only have not cooperated with the Governorate in removing electoral violations, but have refrained from doing so," Khanjani said.

The official also cited other cases of violations, including writing graffiti and distributing 'night letters against the candidates' which he said are illegal.

Khanjani described interference of armed forces' in the election as 'dangerous', saying cases of such behavior 'have now gone beyond the limit of doubt'.

Last month, Interior Minister Adolvahed Moussavi Lari asked military forces to steer clear of the presidential election.

In a letter to the Guardian Council, Moussavi Lari protested to remarks attributed to the supervisory body's spokesman who had reportedly said that there was no legal ban on the military forces' intervention in the 'executive and supervisory domains' of the polls.

The interior minister has described the remarks as 'the cause of escalating concerns and a note of alarm against the entry of armed forces into the electoral process and a direct threat to a healthy election'.

In similar statements in the central city of Shiraz, Moussavi Lari cautioned the volunteer Basij forces against interfering in the election process.

"Basij, as a military force, cannot interfere in the presidential election and the interference of the Basij members is tantamount to the interference of other armed forces," he said.

"The whole set of the laws and directives served by the chief commander to all military and police forces has banned the interference of these forces in the elections.

"According to these laws, none of the members of the Sepah (the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps), Basij, army and police, have the right to interfere in the elections," Moussavi Lari added.

Electoral campaigning began on the morning of May 25 but few hours later hackers targeted Larijani's website, defacing his home page which resulted in its subsequent crash.

Larijani's electoral headquarters had also to deny reports that he intended to pull out of the race in favor of other candidate Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

"Unfortunately, this news is mostly being reported in the press by the supporters of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani," it said in a statement, denouncing the report as part of a 'psychological war'."

Jannati calls some procedures in election campaign "illegal" - Persian Journal Latest Iran news & Iranian Newspaper

2005-06-11T11:46:00.000-03:00

Jannati calls some procedures in election campaign "illegal" - Persian Journal Latest Iran news & Iranian Newspaper: "Jannati calls some procedures in election campaign "illegal"
Jun 10, 2005

Mullah Ahmad Jannati criticized some presidential election candidates and said they are using "illegal" techniques in their campaigns.

Addressing thousands of bassijis at Tehran University Campus, Jannati accused some of the candidates to "violate laws" in order to win the election.

However, he did not name any specific candidate. Eight candidates are running for Iran's 9th presidential election to be held on June 17.

Ayatollah Jannati added," Now, that these people do not have any official post, they are ignoring law. What would they do when they get the presidential post?"
He warned that if these candidates do not stop their illegal actions, the judicial system would deal with them.

Jannati advised the next president to avoid nepotism in selecting his colleagues and choose the officials on their merits.

© Iranian.ws"

The Peninsula On-line: Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani may be Big Oil's best bet for Iran's next president

2005-06-11T11:42:00.000-03:00

The Peninsula On-line: Qatar's leading English Daily: "Rafsanjani seen luring more foreign cash to Iran oil
Web posted at: 6/11/2005 2:17:3
Source ::: Reuters
DUBAI: Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani may be Big Oil's best bet for Iran's next president, as his pragmatic approach may open more doors to foreign investment and ease tensions with Washington.

But even a cunning operator like Rafsanjani-who is leading opinion polls ahead of the June 17 elections-will have his work cut out in the murky world of Iranian energy, rife with political infighting.

"Rafsanjani will make a big push for capital to expand Iran's oil production as well as its political clout-but that won't happen overnight," said a Western oil executive.

In the era of reformist President Mohammad Khatami, Iran had an uphill struggle notching up 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) of new crude oil production with foreign cash.

But despite the slow pace of Iranian decision-making and the absence of US technology and firms due to Washington's unilateral sanctions, Iran used billions of dollars from abroad to boost oil capacity to 4.2 million bpd from 3.7 million.

Iran has been producing around 4 million bpd for the past year.

To accelerate the Islamic Republic's production drive, Rafsanjani, who served as president in 1989-97 and initiated the opening to foreign investment in oil in 1995, will probably try to curb infighting and mend fences with the United States, whose cutting-edge technology is badly needed.

"We're even hearing whispers that Iran might modify its buy-back model into some type of production-sharing agreement," said a Western oil company source.

Long-term production-sharing deals are favoured by the oil industry because they guarantee a healthy profit margin, even with low world oil prices. At the same time, the producer country can retain control over mineral ownership.

But there are now limits to such deals under Iran's constitution.

Western critics of Iran's buy-backs, where foreign firms are repaid with proceeds from oil output, say they are an impediment to outside investment. They complain of being unable to book reserves and want longer-term, more flexible arrangements. Conservative Iranian politicians, distrustful of foreign capital, say the deals smack of colonialism.

Fast enough opening?

Whatever the model, rapid investment is critical in a country that aims to boost output capacity to 5.3 million bpd by 2009 from 4.2 million while some of its ageing oilfields are registering annual output declines of up to 300,000 bpd.

"Iran's energy sector is in a mess," said former Iranian diplomat Mehdi Varzi, president of Varzi Energy. "It needs fundamental reform and I'm not sure it will get it."

Since opening its vast oil and gas riches to the outside world, Iran has signed investment deals worth about $15bn – not nearly enough to stimulate a sector that has stagnated since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Multinationals are now hoping for access to Iran's prized Yadavaran and Azadegan oilfields, but executives want state-run National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) to sweeten commercial terms.

"If Iran does not get a massive amount of foreign investment to boost development, they will be lucky to sustain production of 3.5 million to 4 million barrels a day after a few years," said Varzi.

But Iran's oil development is at breakneck pace compared to its natural gas sector, the world's second biggest after Russia.

For Iran's next president, revamping the oil and gas industry may prove a bigger challenge than foreign diplomacy.

"There are too many off-shoots of NIOC and there is no clear chain of command," said Varzi. "Iran needs to revise the nature of its foreign investment deals and clip the wings of NIOC."

That might be easier said than done.

"There is an entrenched elite of political appointees who arrived after the revolution – and how does one correct that?" said Manouchehr Takin of the Centre for Global Energy Studies.

"Reforms started a few years ago and should continue. The change will have to be gradual, regardless of who becomes president."

Despite criticism of its foreign investment drive Iran is currently the only Middle East producer with abundant untapped oil reserves that has opened its oil sector to foreign cash.

Economic and social liberalisation is likely to continue under Rafsanjani or leading reformist candidate Mostafa Moin.

But progress could be temporarily stalled if Rafsanjani's closest challenger, hardliner Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, wins.

"A right wing conservative might remove a few top people here and there and look at the buy-back process again," said Takin. "There might be a delay of six months to a year to review things – more as a public relations exercise." "

FT.com / Middle East & Africa - Islamic virtue takes a back seat on Iran's new-look campaign trail

2005-06-11T11:36:00.000-03:00

FT.com / Middle East & Africa - Islamic virtue takes a back seat on Iran's new-look campaign trail: "Islamic virtue takes a back seat on Iran's new-look campaign trail
By Najmeh Bozorgmehr and Gareth Smyth
Published: June 11 2005 03:00 | Last updated: June 11 2005 03:00

The confident, rugged pilot prepares the passengerairline for take-off as themorning sun glints in thecockpit glass. "Fuel check," he commands, as light techno music builds up pre-flight excitement.

It could be a Hollywood movie, but instead it's a campaign video for Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, the 43-year-old former national police chief running in Iran's presidential election as a conservative moderniser.

Mr Qalibaf's approach is the slickest of the eight candidates contesting the June 17 poll. Although five are from the conservative camp, most are running campaigns that Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the often stern-faced founder of the Islamic Republic in 1979, might struggle to recognise.

Slogans exhort nationalism - always strong in Iran, but reinforced after the country's football team beat Bahrain on Wednesday to qualify for next summer's World Cup.

No one speaks of confronting the "Great Satan" (a euphemism for the US). Islamic virtue takes a back seat to images of smiling women and youngish technocrats.

Candidates promise better economic management and to listen to young people. Iran's minimum voting age is 16, and political organisers are well aware half the 68m population is under 25. "The same young people who were once considered problems are now the source of votes," wrote Mohammad Qouchani, a prominent journalist in Shargh, the reformist newspaper. "Even groups notorious for opposing development and democracy have realised there is no other way to attract people's votes."

Not everyone agrees. Jomhuri-ye Eslami, the rightwing newspaper, warned this week that slogans and posters were ignoring "revolutionary values" and reminded candidates "they owe their position to Islam, the Revolution and the people".

But Ali Larijani, a conservative hopeful, is running on the slogan "Fresh Air with a Government of Hope" - just eight years after he backed a fellow conservative on a ticket of "Melting in Velayat-e Faqih"; in other words, unconditional obedience to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Informal polls suggest the election will go to a second round because no candidate will gain the 50 per cent needed to win on June 17. And this unpredictability is stimulating competition, even if a low turn-out is likely. Candidates have also learned lessons from 1997 and 2001, when the reformist Mohammad Khatami won landslide victories that many analysts said was helped by his winning smile and appeal to women. But Mr Khatami has admitted that he has not met people's expectations for reform of the Islamic system and to having floundered in the face of hardliners who control decision-making.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani - the 71-year-old cleric, former president and stalwart of the revolution - has re-energised himself as a prophet of dialogue with the west and social freedom at home.

Trendy young people in northern Tehran have pasted "Hashemi" stickers on their imported four-wheel drives, and girls in tight Islamic covering and "Hashemi" headbands have been scooting through parks on roller-skates.

The outside world is used to seeing Iran in terms of dramatic clashes: reformists against conservatives, and secularism against Islam.

But the 2005 presidential election shows a subtle process of change. This election is as much a contest between hardline and more moderate conservatives as a competition between conservatives and reformists.

"If a candidate tries to escape from democracy and shows toughness, it won't work," said Hamid-Reza Jalaei-Pour, a sociology professor at Tehran university.

For the first time in Iran, there is a candidate clearly running for a party. Mostafa Moein, a reformist contender, was chosen by Mosharekat, the main reformist group. In a reality check to polished electioneering, Dr Moein appeared on Wednesday on state television in an interview with Saeed Hajjarian, the leading reformist journalist partially paralysed by an assassination attempt by Islamic vigilantes in 2000.

"You are an example to our young," Dr Moein told Mr Hajjarian, whose questions were run as subtitles because of his slurred speech.

But just a week before the election, candidates are struggling to motivate a disillusioned electorate. Iranians are sceptical about politics and politicians' promises after wearying years of revolution, high unemployment and inflation, and Mr Khatami's battles with unelected state institutions. "Not even all the changes in the way of campaigning may be enough to make people vote," says Mr Jalaei-Pour. "We have had 25 years of sloganeering, so now it's very difficult to fool Iranians.""

Voters Attack the Hypocrite Enemies of Islam; Moin and Nabavi

2005-06-11T11:22:00.000-03:00

Gulf Times Newspaper - Qatar, Gulf and World News - Gulf/Arab World: "Home:Gulf/Arab World

Iran reformist candidate unhurt in attack at rallyPublished: Saturday, 11 June, 2005, 12:22 PM Doha Time

TEHRAN: The leading reformist candidate in Iran’s presidential election was attacked at a campaign rally yesterday, a day after a fellow liberal suffered a fractured skull when he was set upon by an extremist mob.

After holding a speech in the southern town of Borazjan in Bushehr province, Mustafa Moin and his supporters were attacked by some protesters, as he left the mosque where he had given a campaign speech. He was unhurt.

The protesters broke a window of the mosque and chanted: “Death to the hypocrite”.

Moin was protected by his supporters and led to his bus, but a confrontation followed between people outside the mosque and the protesters.

Another top reformer, Behzad Nabavi, said his skull was fractured, his face bruised and clothing ripped by the attackers who used teargas, chains and sticks during an attack on Thursday in Qom, Iran’s clerical epicentre.

“About 30 people tried to disturb the speech from the beginning, but they failed ... After the speech, I was told by police that everything was okay for leaving the place, but pressure groups attacked us,” Nabavi told the student news agency Isna.

The gang also attacked police when they stepped in to stop the violence, Navabi said, adding that some of them were arrested after he complained.

Nabavi is a senior member of the reformist party Mujahideen of Islamic Revolution Organisation (Miro), which backs Moin’s bid for the June 17 presidential elections.

Moin’s campaign headquarters in Tehran yesterday also reported attacks on its supporters in the western town of Hamedan after a campaign speech.

“Pressure groups attacked the campaign base of Moin in Hamedan after a speech by students ... The attackers beat up some of the campaign members and escaped,” said the head of Moin’s campaign in Hamedan, Hossein Loghmanian.

A campaign speech by the leader of the opposition party Iran Freedom Movement, Ebrahim Yazdi, was also cancelled “because the police announced it could not provide security” and the sound system was cut, he added in a statement.

“It is completely obvious that these (incidents) are organised by an official establishment focused against Moin’s campaigns, because using teargas, handcuffs and organised actions on one single day indicate that they are not ordinary people or supporters of other candidates,” Nabavi said.

“This evening, I was supposed to hold a speech in downtown Tehran. They have said ‘if he comes here, we kill him’. So, we had to cancel the programme against my will.” - AFP"

swissinfo, Hardcore regime supporters split over Iran election

2005-06-11T11:15:00.000-03:00

International news from swissinfo, the Swiss news platform: "June 11, 2005 1:05 PM

Hardcore regime supporters split over Iran election

By Paul Hughes

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Prayers and politics are inextricably entwined in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the last Friday Prayers session in Tehran before June 17 presidential elections was no exception.

Banners draped inside the Tehran University prayer hall reminded the 6,000 worshippers it was their duty to send a defiant message to Iran's enemies by voting.

"Each vote means death to America," said hardline cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, invoking the chant that has reverberated around prayer meetings since the 1979 Islamic revolution toppled the U.S.-backed Shah.

Those at prayers, the vast majority of them over 40, represent the unshakable hardcore supporters of the system of clerical rule introduced after the revolution.

Analysts say they number between 10 and 25 percent of Iran's 67 million population and deem them a potent electoral force in a vote where turnout is expected to be about 50 percent.

But an electoral field of eight, including two clerics and four former members of Iran's hardline Revolutionary Guards, has split the hardcore vote and boosted the chances of more moderate candidates like former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

"The variety of candidates means the vote will be split," said Mohammad Reza Kuchakzadeh, 50, as rival groups flooded out of prayers chanting the names of their favorites and tossing campaign leaflets into the air.

Kuchakzadeh, who works in a car parts factory, said he would vote for former state broadcasting chief Ali Larijani, 48, who is currently fourth in opinion polls well behind front-runner Rafsanjani, 70, the president from 1989 to 1997.

FRESH FACE

"We need a fresh face with new ideas and energy and flexibility. I see such characteristics in Larijani," he said.

But he doubted Larijani could win the vote to replace outgoing reformist cleric Mohammad Khatami. "I think the general atmosphere favors Rafsanjani," he said.

Nearby an elderly woman pointed eagerly at a picture of former Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a staunch hard-liner who has made little impression in polls.

"Rafsanjani's too old, he's not capable," she exclaimed.

Reza Heydari, 55, said he would vote for "someone who can rescue our country from poverty and that is Ahmadinejad."

Like others interviewed, Heydari said the most pressing problems facing Iran were economic and dismissed the need for greater political and social freedoms which more liberal candidates have promised.

"Iran is already free. What we need is someone who can lower inflation, cut unemployment and improve welfare," he said.

Hardline commentator Hossein Shariatmadari said last week the four traditional conservative candidates must agree on a single nominee to have any hope of overhauling Rafsanjani.

He suggested locking Larijani, Ahmadinejad, ex-Revolutionary guards chief Mohsen Rezaie and ex-police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf in a mosque for 48 hours to settle their differences.

Qalibaf, 43, whose slick campaign advertisements feature him in pilot's uniform next to a passenger jet and highlight his piercing blue eyes, is second behind Rafsanjani in the polls.

But despite clear anti-Rafsanjani hints dropped by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in speeches urging voters to elect a young, energetic president, some said Iran should turn to the wily pragmatist again.

"The bazaar has decided to back Larijani," said Mohammad Tajik, 60, who owns a shop in the Tehran bazaar. "But I will vote for Rafsanjani. He has the experience to lead the country."

(Additional reporting by Amir Paivar)"

Tehran Times Political Desk - Election Countdown

2005-06-10T15:53:00.000-03:00

Description of Selected News: "Election Countdown

Tehran Times Political Desk
Iran has great historical responsibility: Ahmadinejad

TEHRAN (MNA) -- Tehran Mayor Mahmud Ahmadinejad told a gathering of thousands of people in Qom Province on Friday that Iran is a special nation with a great historical responsibility.

The presidential hopeful added that the Iranian nation is duty bound to form a modern, exemplary, sovereign Islamic society as soon as possible.

In order to achieve this ideal, the nation has so far passed two milestones, the Islamic Revolution and the establishment of an Islamic system, he observed.

Up to now, the nation has encountered great problems, including the puppet Pahlavi regime, the interim government, several liberalist or Marxist groups, economic and political sanctions, Iraq’s eight-year imposed war on Iran, several assassinations, and the Iranian nation has overcome all of them, he said.

Ahmadinejad noted that since the enemies have been disappointed in the aforementioned plots, they are now seeking to weaken the country’s management system in order to hinder Iran’s progress.

However, with the all-out support of the people as well as the guidance of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, a real Islamic government will soon be established in Iran, he said.

Iran in need of great transformation: Rezaii

Presidential hopeful Mohsen Rezaii said in Fouladshahr, Isfahan Province on Thursday that making fundamental changes in the government and altering the arrangement of power in the country require popular support as well as courage on the part of the next government.

As long as the arrangement of power is not changed in Iran, the standard of living of the people will not improve, he added.

He went on to say that Iran is in dire need of a great transformation and a government quite different from the current one should be established so that it can create a fundamental change in all economic, management, and industrial aspects of the people’s lives within the framework of the Constitution.

Rezaii also noted that he intends to establish a popular, efficient and pragmatic government. -------------Human resources must be utilized to solve social problems: Moin

Presidential candidate Mostafa Moin said here on Friday that as long as Iran fails to utilize its human resources, it will not be able to solve social problems, adding that he would employ a democratic method of rule.

Speaking at Tehran’s Tarbiat Modarres University, Moin stated that the lack of enthusiasm about the election is due to the frustration of the youth, adding that inspiring even one of these young people would be a great service to society.

On the possibility of negotiations with the United States in the future, he said that holding negotiations with the U.S. would depend on the social situation because one can not negotiate with that country without reflection.

Qalibaf promises to establish excellent relations with neighboring countries

In an interview with the Saudi Arabian daily Aljazeera here on Friday, presidential candidate Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that he would establish excellent relations with neighboring countries. Qalibaf, who is one of the front runners in the election, added, “The suffering of some people in Iran is not in accordance with the values of the Islamic Revolution. Our revolution is based on two main axes: Islam and the people.”

On his economic and political programs, he said that he is determined to form a new administration which would rely on the youth, adding that he would spare no effort to struggle against every kind of corruption.

Qalibaf went on to say that he would reform all organizations and support political parties and political and individual freedom.

On Iran’s nuclear dossier, he said that Iran’s right to access nuclear technology is recognized in international law, and Iran will continue diplomatic activities to ensure that the nuclear negotiations continue.

Asked about his attitude toward the phenomenon of terrorism, he noted that Iran has been one of the victims of terrorism and so the Islamic Republic is one of the countries which fight against terrorism.

However, Iranians do not call the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance groups terrorists, but, quite the contrary, they consider the Zionist regime to be a terrorist government, he explained.

Agreement will eventually be reached in Iran-EU3 nuclear negotiations: Rafsanjani

In an exclusive interview with AFP, Iranian presidential candidate Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said that Iran and the EU3 (Britain, France, and Germany) will eventually reach an agreement in their nuclear negotiations. On his chance for winning the presidential office in the upcoming elections, he said, “One cannot be certain. The opinion polls say one thing, but we cannot say for certain what will happen." He rejected the idea that the issue of Iran's relations with the United States is playing a major role in the campaigning. "I do not think this is the case. But it is certain that when the problems with the United States are solved, there will be fundamental changes." He said he had an idea for resuming relations between Iran and the U.S. “If the Americans renounce their hostile stance and show goodwill, the road will be prepared for negotiations.” Rafsanjani said releasing Iranian frozen assets would be a correct gesture by the U.S. “I think this would be the right gesture that would show their goodwill. It would show the Americans are serious and wish to act." In response to a question on Iran’s response to rejection of its right to uranium enrichment and the possibility of leaving the negotiations, he said: “We need an accord on enrichment. (Bush) said, according to what was reported in the press, that Iran can enrich to low levels." Rafsanjani said he would try to ensure the application of due process of law on the issue of freedom of political prisoners. “If someone is unjustly in prison, I will try to free them. If it conforms with the law, then one can ask for a pardon. I would do that for every case." On the freedom of the press, satellite dishes and the Internet, the presidential hopeful said Iran’s press is in a good situation and their freedom can develop. “We cannot fight against satellite television and the Internet.”"

O'Connell Campaign Analyses - Rafsanjani pulls a strong vote but goes into the Run-off with Qalibaf a distant second

2005-06-10T13:20:00.000-03:00

Iran Scan - The democratic future of Iran: "Hello
I have worked a number of political campaigns over the years. In fact I worked the databases in support of John Kerry's campaign. American and Iranian politics are very similar at a certain level. The older a voter is the more likely they are to vote, The more religious a voter is the more likely they are to vote. The more stable a voter's life style is the more likely they are to vote. A husband who has a secure job and a wife and children is more likely they are to vote then an unemployed young person. George Bush drew 60 % of the voters who attend church every Sunday. Your conservatives will pull a strong vote from the religiously observant but Rafsanjani can make inroads into the religiously observant because of his impeccable credentials. The Secure Job voters are more volatile. They will be drawn to Rafsanjani's pragmatism but many will be drawn to the conservatives. It will be difficult for Dr, Moin to draw heavily from this group because he represents change. A man with a family and a secure job tends to fear change. Older voters will resist change as well. They tend to be the most open to Rafsanjani.

Where then does Dr. Moin draw his support. The intelligencia tends to disparage the Status Quo and embrace change. This is Dr. Moin's bedrock support. This also takes in the far left radicals, i.e. the old Tudeh party, The Mujehedeen--e Khalq sympathizers, and the disaffected. This group is problematic since they are among the groups most likely to have left the country or if they stayed they are contemplating the boycott.

Rafsanjani has the edge because he represents stability and change at the same time. He is a safe vote for the religiously observant and he represents hope to the secure job voters. Interestingly enough he draws very well with the young. Many youth like a slightly edgy winner.

Qalibaf is faltering. He had big momentum but lately he is slowing down. His handlers have him dressed up like an Orange County dentist. My wife thinks he looks "very nice" compared to his old image. He is at risk of not being taken seriously enough. How many people vote for a person because he is cuter. He needs to look a little more dignified and he needs at least Larijani out of the race to get things rolling again.

Dr. Moin has many of the problems that plagued John Kerry. His bedrock support is hard to get out to vote. He needs to mobilize the youth but the youth he attracts are the least serious voters. He has people who like him arguing for a boycott. He needs something huge and galvanizing to mobilize his vote. Even if Karrubi drops out that will help Rafsanjani as much or more then Moin.

All the other candidates fade away. It is likely some will drop out but either way they cannot win. Ahmadinejad will not drop out he is the conservative conscience. He is in it to deliver a message not to win. Larijani are both very open to pressure to drop out.

My prediction is that Rafsanjani pulls a strong vote but goes into the Run-off with Qalibaf a distant second. Look forward to President Rafsanjani.
Best wishes,
Barry O'Connell "

Iran News - Interview with Iran's former police chief, Qalibaf

2005-06-09T20:34:00.000-03:00

Iran News - Interview with Iran's former police chief, Qalibaf: " Interview with Iran's former police chief, Qalibaf

Thursday, June 09, 2005 - ©2005 IranMania.com
LONDON, June 9 (IranMania) - Iran's former police chief and the 9th presidential candidate Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf in an interview with IRIB recently outlined his future platform in case of turning Iran's president, according to IRNA.

The following is an excerpt of the interview:

"In the Name of the Most High I believe foreign policy of the state should be based on collaboration. Since borders are almost perished and even definition on borders has undergone changes,collaboration has come to reserve a special status in the world. If I turn a president,my cabinet will put on its agenda collaboration with the countries with which we share interests.

I do not agree association of fundamentalism and radicalism in foreign policy. Our country needs to pass the period of detente and confidence building.The country should reach the stage of having effective relations and positive collaboration in the world. We should play a role in global equations and win our share.

In talks with Europeans we showed that we are for logic, dialogue and cooperation. We are not at all after fanning tension and hostilities. We want cooperation with all countries, except the countries that want to undermine and humiliate us.

Many countries have not had good approach towards our revolution.

This has especially been true during the eight-year war imposed by former Iraqi ruler Saddam on us. Certain countries did not treat us well during imposed war. Many European and even some neighboring states acted against us when we were defending ourselves in the face of Saddam's invasion. We were all witness to the anti-Iran hostile approach those times. Saddam used to make troubles for regional peace and security. All the countries supporting Saddam those times were responsible for his unwise stances and gestures. We, however, stood firm and acted logically and fairly those times.

Certain European states threw their weight and support for the outlawed terrorist Mujahideen Khalq Organization, that has been acting against our interests. The countries do still support the outfit. I believe Europe and the world at large should take all the components into consideration in their relations with Iran. We have always been striving for peace and security in the region. We have never created any problem for peace and security in the region, rather we have been trying to enhance security. We have not yet received any positive and full response to our measures, however.

Relation with the US is a highly complicated issue.

Simplification of the problem could entail unfavorable consequences.

This is a subject,which deserves special attention. There are now two views in our country about the issue. The first approach blames foreign enemies, including the US, for all problems, weak performances and poor management. This is not a right approach. We should pay attention to realities. We should not lay the blame only on foreign enemies.
There are yet other groups on the scene of foreign policy, which believe relations with the issue would be the key to all problems. They believe we can solve any kind of problem in different fields through establishing relations with the US.
As you see there are many oil rich states in the region. They have also very good relations with the US.Many problems on domestic and foreign scenes have not however been solved.

It should be noted that negotiations are different with dialogue, debate, discussion and exchange of opinions.

Power lies behind talks. If you do not stand powerful outside the hall of talks, you will definitely be the loser in the talks.

The US is constantly referring to us as a government supporting terrorism, violating human rights, producing nuclear bombs and opposing the Middle East peace process. The US has put us along with Iraq and North Korea in the triangle of "axis of evil".

Washington has every now and then put us the likely target of its military invasion after Iraq. The US is constantly
threatening and accusing us. It issues different kinds of sanctions against us. It will build up different kinds of
pressures on us and gain incentives as we enter the hall of discussions. If we enter talks, the US will try to push us backward step by step. It would impose new things on us to take further concessions and make us unable to sit behind the negotiation table.

It will force us to stop talks. then it will start building up pressures on us again.

So, we should:
First of all, assess ongoing conditions, identify the pressure levers and find what are our strong points. We should know to what extent we can raise pressure.

Secondly, we should get to know to what extent we want to give concessions. The Iran-US problem is not something dependent on Iran.

I mean, we should not think that the problem can be solved if we go into talks and give concessions. The US is one side of the coin. It has taken a complicated approach towards the issue. We should not think that we can solve the problem if we wish. A president has a limited authority and power in such a national case as the US. Relations with the US and holding or not holding talks with it is a national issue and policy. The leader,Expediency Council, Majlis and other decision-making bodies as well as president play a role in such issue. Certain strategic issues, that have something to do with our national security and interests, should not turn victim of factional fighting.

Iran's nuclear case should not turn into a tool for the candidates to harm image of his rival to garner more votes. Iran's nuclear case is eally complicated and difficult. It is a national case and is not the concern of a special group or personality. The islamic establishment of Iran and the key decision makers in the establishment are the only authorities that have the right to follow he nuclear dossier. The other party(Europeans) in the nuclear talks are really very powerful. The group of people - Europeans and the International Atomic Energy Agency - and the US pressures, make the nuclear talks really hard and complicated. Proposals and criticisms should be raised in the process.

Attempts should be made to ensure all discussions aim Iran's victory in the talks, stronger national power and national interests. We should insist on national interests in the nuclear talks and in all occasions. We should take into consideration all the global realities and power equations on the international scene.

Tehran's stances on the nuclear problem has been wise and well-calculated. On the one hand, we should strive for restoration of Iran's legal and natural rights of access to nuclear technology.

On the other hand, we should follow the goal through dialogue and cooperation with the international institutions and winning global confidence. We should neither submit to illegal pressures of foreign powers nor raise hostile approaches to the world. We should rather select a complicated approach, which would guarantee Iran's rights and interests. This is something accessible through cooperation, discussions and debate. We could those times even abandon
international treaties on nuclear energy. This was our legal rights even. Besides peaceful nuclear energy we do need to have cooperation with the world. We should win their confidence. Our international prestige should not be harmed. We should not allow those, that want to distort our image, to be successful in their works.

So, on the whole, the discussions on the nuclear dossier should e well l-guided. There might be criticisms over details of the talks - as there are. People should be assured that any concessions that are given and any restriction that is accepted would be to the interest of the country. And finally, access to peaceful nuclear technology has turned into a national demand. People have specially become sensitive towards the issue with regards to foreigners' pressures and restrictions. This Islamic Republic establishment will not fall short in the case. Iran is seriously trying to ensure that the national achievement will not be harmed. Our nuclear diplomacy should be seriously taken into consideration. The insistence on restoration of Iran's rights and national interests and on the strategy of " Neither surrendering nor hostility" shows maturity of our diplomacy. We should not compromise our right principles on the international scene.

We should follow up our rights through logical means, through cooperation, dialogue and reputation. We can have ties with other countries, while following our own dignity and interests."

Iran News - Rafsanjani: No link with campaign carnivals (The Youth Just Love Him So!)

2005-06-09T16:14:00.000-03:00

Iran News - Rafsanjani: No link with campaign carnivals: "Rafsanjani: No link with campaign carnivals

Thursday, June 09, 2005 - ©2005 IranMania.com
LONDON, June 9 (IranMania) - Iran's Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani rejected any link between some campaign carnivals in his support and his electoral headquarters.

“It is easy to lie and everybody can easily lie,“ he told IRNA.Some youth have launched electoral carnivals in Tehran in recent days to back Rafsanjani. Sections of the local print media claimed the carnivals were operating in coordination with Rafsanjani’s electoral headquarters.

“All offices that handle my campaign activities are self-motivated and broad-based. I am not informed of their activities and a headquarters like the Ninth Coalition does not interfere in their work either. However, different sections of the society campaign for (for me) in the way they know best,“ IRNA quoted the former president and frontrunner in the June 17 poll as saying.

Asked whether he is still a member of the Assembly of Combatant Clergy, he said, “My remarks made on Tuesday have been misinterpreted by the sections of local media. I only said that during the Fifth Majlis elections since the assembly did not want to mention the names of certain individuals in its final electoral list, differences of opinion arose between the assembly and me.“

Some senior religious authorities and prominent instructors in the influential Qom School of Theoloy have endorsed his candidature, he said."

Ahmadi Nejad and Rezai Under Presure To Betray Their Supporters

2005-06-08T16:39:00.000-03:00

Khaleej Times Online: "Iranian hardliners under pressure to trim down presidential list
(AFP)

8 June 2005
TEHERAN - The four hardliners running for Iran’s presidency came under increasing pressure from supporters on Wednesday to agree on just one of their number to stand in a bid to ensure a right-wing victory on June 17.

But so far, not one of the quartet -- Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Ali Larijani, Mahmud Ahmadi Nejad and Mohsen Rezai -- has shown any sign of standing aside.

“The opinion polls are showing that the votes for the conservatives, put together, are higher than for each of the other candidates. But if they all stay in the race, not one of them could win,” wrote Hossein Shariatmadari, director of the hardline Kayhan evening newspaper.

“If these four could reach an agreement on just one of them standing, victory is certain,” he wrote.

Leading the race is powerful ex-president and leading cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, more of a pragmatic and centrist conservative. He is campaigning on a platform of saving the Islamic republic from the ideological far-right.

Of the four hardliners, populist former national police chief Qalibaf is seen as being the candidate with the best chance. Informal opinion polls, which must be treated with caution, show Rafsanjani with around 30 percent support and Qalibaf with 17 percent.

Shariatmadari, an outspoken pillar of Iran’s religious right, said “the solution is to put them all in a mosque and cut them off from contacts with their respective entourage.

“There they will be face to face with Allah, and will understand the need to choose a single candidate from among themselves.”

Qalibaf, Larijani, Ahmedinejad and Rezai are also veteran commanders from the Revolutionary Guards, the powerful ideological army set up after the revolution. The decision of all of them to stand has bemused many in the right-wing camp.

Larijani, a former state media boss and advisor to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is trailing Qalibaf, while Ahmedinejad and Rezai are shown with just a few percentage points each.

One hardline newspaper said two of the four fundamentalists were mulling a pull-out with just over a week to go before the election.

“According to our information, two of them will withdraw in favour of one of the others, and this will have a positive effect,” the Ressalat paper said, as other papers said the two were Ahmedinejad and Rezai.

Both have denied plans to withdraw and denounced the ”pressure”.

But hardliners overall have found difficulty challenging Rafsanjani. He has driven the debate with calls for greater economic liberalisation as well as a rethink of how the regime deals with young people and its severed relations with the United States.

On Wednesday, Rafsanjani said he would agree to renew dialogue with arch-foe Washington if it releases Iranian assets frozen since the Islamic revolution.

“As I have said before, a goodwill gesture on the part of the United States would be for them to unblock our assets,” the top Shiite cleric said in an interview with the hardline Jomhuri Islami newspaper.

“If such a gesture was made, we could enter into negotiations. This has been my position and I still think the same way,” the 70-year-old added.

Iran and the United States cut off relations in 1980, a year after the revolution, and Iranian assets in the US were frozen. Rafsanjani has previously said the figure is at least eight billion dollars plus interest.

“The United States has still not responded. But if they do respond, I will speak to the guide (Khamenei) and we can start to negotiate,” Rafsanjani said.

Iran’s supreme leader is seen as being against any rapprochement, as are the four hardliners.

But as for his relations with Khamenei -- the subject of speculation that a power struggle may be on the horizon -- Rafsanjani told the paper the two were “great friends and maybe even had the purest friendship that ever existed”."

Iran Presidential Campaign 2005

Xinhua - English

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JTA NEWS Presents The Mossad defense: AIPAC Spy Scandal Was All Franklin's Fault

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