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Larijani Confesses to Deepening Rift in Iranian Authority | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Ali Larijani, current chairman of the Parliament of Iran


London-As the Iranian Baharestan area, located at the heart of Tehran, prepares for the new parliament resuming authority next Saturday, current – soon-to-end term- chairman of the Parliament Ali Larijani confessed to the intensifying disputes and political crisis ripping through the decision-making strata of the Iranian capital.

Nonetheless, Larijani’s candidacy for chairing the future parliament is still valid with high chances of winning.

Electoral parties and the presidential committee seem to have no clear sight of the upcoming period.

Larijani stated that resolving the most pressing challenges of the country is failing due to the ongoing tense atmosphere. “Tension at the parliament led to our incapacity to attend fundamental national issues; moreover, away from parliament, perspectives are failing to reach consensus,” said Larijani.

Referring to recent elections turnout and the balance of powers among different political parties, Larijani clarified that “people demand that central cases are attended amid a logical and clam atmosphere.”

He added that the parliament had taken its decisions after being subjected to influential circumstances, which now rule the country. Larijani said that Iran is “undergoing a very tense state-of-affairs.”

Larijani currently receives a good chance of resuming his post on chairing the newfound parliament, which kick-starts activities next Saturday by first electing a presidential board and parliamentary subsidiary committees.

The current acute Iranian economic crisis was a great defense played by the ninth parliament which earlier fiercely opposed Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s economic policies, said Larijani.

He also lauded the score of laws legislated, which had angered a majority of Iranians.

According to experts following up on Iranian developments, speculations on who would chair the new parliament are divided into several analyses. Some believe in Larijani returning to head the parliament despite the candidacy of former First Vice-President of Iran Mohammad Reza Aref.

Larijani has many key points playing to his comeback; such as his positive effect on dealing with the nuclear file, his ability to stifle any opposition he faces and the fact of him being one of the close and influential officials to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Not to mention that Larijani’s brother, Sadeq Larijani, is the current and fifth head of the judicial system of Iran.

With the Larijani family controlling both legislative and judicial authorities, some reformists consider that to be a direct threat to Iran’s best interest. Moreover, Rouhani could wish to reward Larijani for his role in the nuclear deal being endorsed by the parliament, in light of opposing cabinet members.

Rouhani backing Larijani’s return to authority sets off several alarms on a rift widening among moderators in Rouhani’s party and conservatives who believe that Aref’s assignment to head the parliament, would guarantee their return to politics in Iran.