Iran’s Guardian Council “key pillar of Islamic Republic” – new president

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Jun. 29 – Iran’s newly-elected President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today met with and praised the hard-line Guardian Council, the highest vetting organ within the clerical establishment, as a “defender of freedom”. “The Guardian Council is a strong barrier against those who try to take away the rights of the people”, Ahmadinejad said. Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Jun. 29 – Iran’s newly-elected President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today met with and praised the hard-line Guardian Council, the highest vetting organ within the clerical establishment, as a “defender of freedom”.

“The Guardian Council is a strong barrier against those who try to take away the rights of the people”, Ahmadinejad said.

“The Guardian Council is one of the most important, key, and sensitive pillars of the Islamic Republic”, he added.

Ahmadinejad’s victory in the presidential race was widely believed to have been achieved with the systematic aid of both the powerful Guardian Council and the Revolutionary Guards. The results of the elections were not in line with pre-election polls which placed Ahmadinejad at the rear of the list of presidential hopefuls and rival candidates have charged that the elections were rigged by the ultra-conservative camp.

Despite an announcement by the Interior Ministry claiming polls were rigged and comments by one candidate, who told reporters that in some cities the number of ballots cast were greater than the number of eligible voters, the Guardian Council ruled that it found no vote fraud to have taken place.

“With the knowledge of the people, the tact of the Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei”>, the professional supervision of the Guardian Council, and the correct actions of the Interior Ministry, the elections were held without the slightest incident and problem”, Ahmadinejad said.

Ahmadinejad emphasized that without the Guardian Council “the country would be in the hands of corrupt individuals” and urged it to continue its activities.

Ayatollah Jannati, who heads the GC, said that the dignity and strength of the clerical regime had been lifted by the election of Ahmadinejad.