Rafsanjani reassures ultra-conservatives, praises Revolutionary Guards

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Jun. 23 – Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani told a meeting of senior Revolutionary Guards commanders that he has not accepted any pre-conditions to win the support of different factions within the regime for his presidency. “All those who are supporting me in the run-off are doing so without any pre-condition”, the former President said. Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Jun. 23 – Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani told a meeting of senior Revolutionary Guards commanders that he has not accepted any pre-conditions to win the support of different factions within the regime for his presidency.

“All those who are supporting me in the run-off are doing so without any pre-condition”, the former President said.

Rafsanjani was trying to reassure ultra-conservatives and extremists within the clerical regime that his presidency would be characterised by the same spirit as his previous term. Rafsanjani was reacting to press reports on a secret pact between him and the allies of outgoing President Mohammad Khatami.

Rafsanjani’s campaign and Khatami’s allies have both denied reports of any secret deal between them.

Revolutionary Guards General Varshabi told the meeting before Rafsanjani took the podium that the former President provided crucial support for the Guards Corps during the 1980s.

“Whenever Ayatollah Rafsanjani came to the warfront, our commanders and troops found his presence comforting”, Varshabi said. “Today our country is again in turmoil and we need his presence to comfort us”.

Rafsanjani praised the Revolutionary Guards and their various branches, saying that they played “a key role in the construction of the country”.

The 70-year-old cleric sharply criticised the other six candidates in the first round of the elections, saying that “they overstepped the limits and thus did injustice to the great achievements of the Islamic revolution in Iran”.