Iran’s Rafsanjani says “enemies” poised to undermine regime

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Jan. 09 – Former President Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani told senior commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on Monday that “enemies” of the Islamic Republic were poised to begin a campaign to undermine the clerical regime, the state-owned ISNA news agency reported. Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Jan. 09 – Former President Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani told senior commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on Monday that “enemies” of the Islamic Republic were poised to begin a campaign to undermine the clerical regime, the state-owned ISNA news agency reported.

“Our enemies are poised to take advantage of the situation inside the country to begin another mischief against Iran, but we don’t know where this mischief will begin”, Rafsanjani said. “All we know is that they are very serious in their decision not to allow the Islamic Republic acquire modern technology on its own”.

Rafsanjani, who chairs the State Expediency Council, said, “The enemies do not want to bear the existence of such a powerful country in the Middle East and will probably create obstacles for us wherever they can to prevent us from reaching our goals”.

“So far, they have failed, just as they failed in the early days of the Islamic revolution and in the [Iran-Iraq war”>”, he said.

“They know we are after scientific progress and that we have prepared the grounds and have good experience for a complete scientific leap”, Rafsanjani said, alluding to Iran’s advanced nuclear program.

Rafsanjani was addressing senior IRGC commanders on the anniversary of Operation Karbala 5, a major ground offensive launched by Iran during the eight-year war with Iraq. Rafsanjani, Ayatollah Khomeini’s right-hand man, was the acting commander in chief of the armed forces at the time.

Analysts saw Rafsanjani’s hard-line comments in his meeting with IRGC commanders as an attempt by the former president to curry favour with the key constituency of ultra-conservative power in Iran.

Rafsanjani warned the ruling factions not to allow the “enemies” to take advantage of their divisions.

“The present conditions require resilience and unity. When [the enemies”> realise that we are ready, they will not dare do anything against us”, he said.

“Naturally, our enemies do not want us to obtain nuclear technology, even though in their basic stances they say that they recognise all countries’ rights. They do not want us to become powerful, but we insist on continuing out the path”, he said.