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Rouhani’s Aide Warns from Threats to Iran’s Security over Power Struggle | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani smiles in Ankara during a visit to Turkey. Reuters


London-Debate among Iranian political parties has been recently raging ahead of the presidential elections scheduled to be held in May.

During the latest confrontation between Rouhani’s current administration and former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a senior official in Rouhani’s office called for not jeopardizing the country and national security in order to gain power.

Meanwhile, a prominent official in Iran’s Hezbollah group considered that reformists constitute the greatest threat to the municipal elections that will take place on May 19 coinciding with the presidential elections.

Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Office for Political Affairs Hamid Aboutalebi responded to criticism made by Ahmadinejad last week during the latter’s visit to Ahwaz, southwest of the country.

Aboutalebi accused the former president of seeking to divide the country to two poles to gain the support of the conservatives by repeating strategic mistakes and making contradictory statements.

He said that the first strategic mistake lies in sabotaging the achievements of the revolution and the regime’s officials in the elections of 2005 and 2009, leaving the country in crisis for eight years and creating division among parties.

The second strategic mistake, he said, was Ahmadinejad’s opposition to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s decision not to isolate former Minister of Intelligence Heydar Moslehi, and his decision to remain at his residence for 11 consecutive days.

Aboutalebi explained that Ahmadinejad’s third mistake was destroying the culture and national economy and deepening differences between the rich and poor.

He said that Ahmadinejad’s act was considered a security threat to the political system, an unprecedented confrontation with the regime and a mean of deepening division between the government and the regime.

In this matter, Khamenei said last week that he stood up against those who tried to change the results of the elections in 1996, 2005, 2009 and 2013.

On the other hand, Ahmadinejad criticized Rouhani a few days ago for accusing him of “deviation.”

He also criticized the current economic situation in Iran and addressed Rouhani, saying: “Who do you think you are for not accepting what the Iranians want? Do you think that 80 million Iranians do not understand while you do? 97 percent of the Iranian people choose to meet their demand. These people are the reason behind your current post.”

The former president was talking before a group of his supporters in Ahvaz city after announcing that he will not support any of the presidential candidates.