Ayatollah Khatami: Hardliners Unite! (sort of)

In a recent interview,* the hardline cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami (not to be confused with Iran's former reformist President, Mohammad Khatami) warned that division among the principlists is undermining the movement.

Khatami, the current Friday prayer leader of Tehran, stressed that principlism (which is what hardliners call their movement) is above else a culture that no individual can claim to speak on behalf. Although he doesn't name names, Khatami is referring to the growing divide among hardline leaders in the build up to the 2009 presidential elections. Ali Larijani, who many believe will be the lead hardline challenger to Ahmadinejad in 2009, has been the most vocal in his criticism of the President.

Other critics include former IRGC commander, Mohsen Rezai, and his ally, Tehran mayor and possible 2009 candidate, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

Ayatollah Khatami argued that the current infighting is a plot by Iran's enemies to divide the camp before the 2009 elections, and that politicians should think about God before they make any dissenting remarks. The current state of the principlist movement is indeed divided, but it is not clear how this is going to play out in the upcoming elections.

The reformists are also divided and most speculation points to them selecting former president Mohammad Khatami as their lead candidate. However, M. Khatami still carries the baggage of having failed in his attempts to enact any significant change in Iran's political system during two terms in office. Even if he is allowed to run in 2009 (many are speculating that he will be blocked), it's difficult to imagine that M. Khatami could inspire much enthusiasm.


*This interview was published in the IRGC-linked Javan daily, OSC has translated some excerpts:

Iran cleric: Enemies are trying to impair the next presidential elections
Javan
Wednesday, August 6, 2008 T18:05:38Z

Tehran, 29 July: Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami stressed that principle-ism is a culture. He said: No one can claim himself to be the only spokesperson to be principle-ists. Furthermore, members of principle-ist parties have to talk on behalf of their party and not the principle-ist movement.

In an interview with the Fars (news agency), Tehran's temporary Friday prayer leader stressed: Principle-ists have to consider that God is watching them and do not make dissenting remarks in their speeches. Even if such speeches cause the principle-ists parties' names mentioned more frequently they have to be fair when delivering a speech.

He said that muddying the waters in the lead-up to the elections is a plot by the enemy and by the politically duped. He added: They have to be careful not to enter the political scene at this time and they should expect a healthy, logical and lawful atmosphere for the next presidential elections.

[Image: hardline cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami]