Ali Akbar Salehi - https://iransview.com Iran's View Sun, 23 Jun 2013 11:56:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/iransview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/cropped-cropped-logo.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Ali Akbar Salehi - https://iransview.com 32 32 50113794 Iran’s President, FM and NSA Slam Arming Syria Rebels https://iransview.com/irans-president-fm-and-nsa-slam-arming-syria-rebels/1182/ https://iransview.com/irans-president-fm-and-nsa-slam-arming-syria-rebels/1182/#respond Sun, 23 Jun 2013 11:56:46 +0000 http://www.iransview.com/?p=1182 Iranian officials reacted to decisions by United States to provide Syrian rebels with weapons.

The post Iran’s President, FM and NSA Slam Arming Syria Rebels first appeared on .

]]>
Iranian officials reacted to decisions by United States to provide Syrian rebels with weapons.

Lebanese Foreign Minister, Adnan Mansour traveled to Tehran on Saturday by the invitation of his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi and two sides discussed regional issues with a focus on Syrian crisis.

“The west talks about human right but send weapons to Syrian terrorists,” said Salehi in a joint press conference with Mansour.

“Iran will never let other impose their will on Syria, The Syrian should decide for their fate,” Salehi said.

Lebanese FM also criticized western efforts to send weapons to anti Syrian government fighters.

“The current Syrian government is the legitimate. Sending weapons for one side of the conflict will not solve the crisis,” he said.

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also slammed the decision of sending weapons to the Syrian rebels on Sunday.

In a meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister he said: “Enemies try to dominate the region and Syria is part of their scenario. We should be vigil and not get deluded by their plans. Violence would not solve the Syrian crisis and both sides should negotiate,” he said.

A spokesman for the foreign-backed Takfiri militants in Syria said the armed groups have been supplied with heavy weapons by ‘brotherly nations’.

Louay Muqdad, the media coordinator of the terrorist Free Syrian Army (FSA), told CNN on June 21 that the new weapons “will be a turning point” in the conflict and will “definitely change the rules of the war on the ground.”

“We have received quantities of new types of weapons, including some that we asked for and that we believe will change the course of the battle on the ground.”

Hussein Amir Abdollahian, Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab-African affairs is another Iranian official that criticize the western stance regard Syria.

“Those who support providing weapons to Syrian rebels are responsible for the civilian’s lives. The U.S. and U.K. made several strategy mistakes in Syria,” he said on Sunday.

The secretary of Iran’s National Security Council also met with the Lebanese FM on Sunday.

In the meeting Saeed Jalili a candidate of Iran’s Presidential election said: “Sending weapons to Syrian terrorists by some countries is a threat to international security.”

The post Iran’s President, FM and NSA Slam Arming Syria Rebels first appeared on .

]]>
https://iransview.com/irans-president-fm-and-nsa-slam-arming-syria-rebels/1182/feed/ 0 1182
Who Might Serve in Rowhani’s Cabinet? https://iransview.com/who-might-serve-in-rowhanis-cabinet/1159/ https://iransview.com/who-might-serve-in-rowhanis-cabinet/1159/#respond Sat, 22 Jun 2013 08:54:50 +0000 http://www.iransview.com/?p=1159 The Iranian president elect, Hassan Rowhani, is going to be sworn into office in less than 50 days and then based on the country's constitution he has to introduce his ministers to the Parliament in two weeks.

Before the election, Rowhani pledged to use individuals with different political tendencies in his administration. It seems that he is under pressure from some figures, political parties, and the media who try to influence his decisions for appointing his ministers. One of these figures is Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

The post Who Might Serve in Rowhani’s Cabinet? first appeared on .

]]>
Elections 2013 Candidates, Left to Right: Mohmmad Reza Aref, Gholamali Hadad-Adel, Ali Akbar Velyati, Ali Akbar Nategh-Nori
From Left to Right: Mohmmad Reza Aref, Gholamali Hadad-Adel, Ali Akbar Velyati, Ali Akbar Nategh-Nori

The Iranian president elect, Hassan Rowhani, is going to be sworn into office in less than 50 days and then based on the country’s constitution he has to introduce his ministers to the Parliament in two weeks.

Before the election, Rowhani pledged to use individuals with different political tendencies in his administration. It seems that he is under pressure from some figures, political parties, and the media who try to influence his decisions for appointing his ministers. One of these figures is Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani who supported Rowhani in his presidential campaign. He has advised Rowhani to use “qualified and experienced people in industry and manufacturing.”

According to a  website close to the Hashemi’s family Rowhani has formed an ‘Appointment Committee’ responsible for the appointment of ministers. The committee includes Ali Yonesi, Akbar Torkan, eshagh Jahangiri, Mohammad Ali Najafi, Mohammadreza Nematzadeh who all served as top officials and ministers during Hashemi’s presidency.

So far, the only person whom Rowhani has named as a member of his cabinet is Mohammad Reza Aref, the Reformist Candidate who withdrew from the presidential race under pressures by reformists’ leader and former president Mohammad Khatami and Rowhani’s supporters.

There are speculations about Rowhani’s possible ministers. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Ali Akbar Velayati and Mohsen Rezaee who were among his rivals in the election are said to be among the appointments as Rowhani promised in the pre-election debates to use his rivals in his administration.

It is said that Ghalibaf would be offered the Housing Ministry, Rezaee the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, and Velayati the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs there are three possible candidates: Mahmoud Vaezi, Rowhani’s political representative in his presidential campaign, Ali Akbar Salehi the current foreign minister and Kamal Kharrazi Khatami’s foreign minister, all of them said to an equal chance to get the position.

Aref, Najafi, and Mohsen Mehralizadeh are thought to be his options for vice presidency and Ali Yonesi for Ministry of Information.

Based on a speculation, Ali Akbar Nategh Noori a well-known revolutionary figure who has severed under Mirhossein Mousavi as the interior minister and also headed the fourth and fifth parliaments will be appointed as the Minister of Interior and a weaker speculation gives Eshagh Jahangiri the same chance.

Presidential Candidate Mohammad Reza Aref (left), former Iranian president, Mohammad Khatami (Right).
Presidential Candidate Mohammad Reza Aref (left), former Iranian president, Mohammad Khatami (Right).

Bijan Namdar zangane who served under, Mousavi, Hashmeni, and Khatami as minister is said to be appointed as Oil Minister, with Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh being the second choice for the position.

For the ministry of Defense, three options are talked about: Ali shamkhani, Akbar Torkan, and above the two, Hossein Dehghan who also was vice president during Khatami and Ahmadinejad administrations.

Ali Akbar Salehi, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, and Hossein Freidoni are said to be the candidates for heading the country’s Atomic Energy Organization.

For the Ministry of Industry, Mining, and Business the possible candidates are Mohammad Shariatmadari, Nematzadeh, and Mohammad Nahavandian and for the Ministry of Economy the speculations fall on Mohammad Bagher Nobakht.

Rowhani is being fully observed for his possible choice for the Ministry of Science due to what he promised to students before the election. Abdollah Jasbi, Jafar Tofighi and Ali Abbaspour are considered as possible candidates for the position.

It is speculated that Ali Motahhari is going to be appointed as the Minter of Culture. Motahhari is a devoted supporter of Hashemi and despite favoring freedom of expression he has strict views about hijab and public morals.

Iran is hosting the Friends of Syria Conference in the capital, Tehran, with the participation of representatives from 40 countries as well as heads of regional and international organizations on May 29,2013.
Iran is hosting the Friends of Syria Conference in the capital, Tehran, with the participation of representatives from 40 countries as well as heads of regional and international organizations on May 29,2013.

The Ministry of Sports is probably going to be taken by either Sayyed Mostafa Hashemi-Taba or Mohammad Dadkan, both suggested to Rowhani by champions of different sports.

The current Minister of Justice Morteza Bakhtiari has a high chance to remain in the position but Abbas-Ali Shooshtari is also another possible candidate who has served in the position before.

The president-elect is said to offer Ministry of Helath to Salahoddin Delshad or Masood Pezeshkian.

His possible candidate for the Ministry of Communication would be Nasrollah Jahangard, and for the Ministry of Roads and Urban Developments among the possible candidates are Ali Abdolalizadeh and Ali Akbar Aghaee.

None of these speculations have been officially approved by Rowhani so far.

The post Who Might Serve in Rowhani’s Cabinet? first appeared on .

]]>
https://iransview.com/who-might-serve-in-rowhanis-cabinet/1159/feed/ 0 1159
Iran’s FM Salehi: Syria is Disintegrating in Front of Our Eyes https://iransview.com/irans-fm-salehi-syria-is-disintegrating-in-front-of-our-eyes/766/ https://iransview.com/irans-fm-salehi-syria-is-disintegrating-in-front-of-our-eyes/766/#respond Wed, 29 May 2013 12:22:18 +0000 http://www.iransview.com/?p=766 Iran's Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi said in the conference of the Friends of Syria on Wednesday that Syria is disintegrating and continuity of the current situation is threatening the regional stability.

The post Iran’s FM Salehi: Syria is Disintegrating in Front of Our Eyes first appeared on .

]]>
Iran is hosting the Friends of Syria Conference in the capital, Tehran, with the participation of representatives from 40 countries as well as heads of regional and international organizations on May 29,2013.
Iran is hosting the Friends of Syria Conference in the capital, Tehran, with the participation of representatives from 40 countries as well as heads of regional and international organizations on May 29,2013.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi said in the conference of the Friends of Syria on Wednesday that Syria is disintegrating and continuity of the current situation is threatening the regional stability.

“We strongly condemn the aggression of the Zionist regime on Syrian soil. We reject military intervention and we support the Geneva conference for peacefully resolving this crisis. The people of Syria are waiting for UN efforts to fight terrorism,” Salehi said.

“On political solution for the Syrian crisis, we accede to Iran,” a representative of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon told during the conference, according Iranian Nasim news agency.

Iran is hosting the Friends of Syria Conference in the capital, Tehran, with the participation of representatives from 40 countries as well as heads of regional and international organizations.

The event, which is held under the banner of “Political Solution, Regional Stability,” seeks to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria.

Sayed Abbas Araghchi, Spokesman of Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in sideline of the conference that none of opposition groups invited to the conference.

“This meeting is aimed at materializing this political solution and assisting constructive efforts at regional matter. The proposal has to be looked into and if accepted we can set up contact group,” Salehi said.

“Any action must focus on eliminating the terrorism. We should stop delivering arms to Syria and protect the borders of the country. This requires multi-faceted effort from neighboring countries,” Salehi said.

“Thousands of hospitals and schools have been destroyed. Kidnappings and sexual violence are widespread. Syria is disintegrating in front of our eyes. It is threatening regional stability.”

The meeting in Tehran comes as Russia and the United States have also agreed to convene an international conference on Syria in Geneva. However, no date has been set for the meeting yet.

Russia has said that it is imperative for Iran to join a proposed peace conference on Syria despite reservations from some Western nations.

“The issue of Iran is key for us,” said Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, while on a visit to Paris on Tuesday. “Iran, without question, is one of the most important nations.”

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly expressed its opposition to any foreign intervention in Syria’s internal affairs, stressing that inclusive dialog and national reconciliation as well as free elections are the keys to resolving the unrest in the Arab country.

The post Iran’s FM Salehi: Syria is Disintegrating in Front of Our Eyes first appeared on .

]]>
https://iransview.com/irans-fm-salehi-syria-is-disintegrating-in-front-of-our-eyes/766/feed/ 0 766
Iran’s Leader Gives Election Indicators, Slams US Interference https://iransview.com/irans-leader-gives-election-indicators-slams-us-interference/747/ https://iransview.com/irans-leader-gives-election-indicators-slams-us-interference/747/#respond Mon, 27 May 2013 12:02:17 +0000 http://www.iransview.com/?p=747 ‫Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei said on Monday that US want to dishearten people on Iran’s presidential election. Delivering a speech to the...

The post Iran’s Leader Gives Election Indicators, Slams US Interference first appeared on .

]]>
‫Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei said on Monday that US want to dishearten people on Iran’s presidential election.

Delivering a speech to the graduated students of the Imam Hossein Military Academy in Tehran, he said: “A high turnout in the Iran election would be costly for them (US).”

“People vote for those that work for the national esteem, resistance against enemies and making Iran a model for world oppressed,” he said.

“[No candidates] should show green light to internal or external enemies.”

“It is almost 34 years that US officials use propaganda [against Iran’ elections] and each time Iranian people punch them in the mouth [by way of who they choose to vote for],” he said.

The US Secretary of State John Kerry on a visit to Israel on Friday criticized the Guardian Council, Iran’s highest electoral supervisory body according to the Constitution, for not approving hundreds of candidates.

Kerry also accused the Guardian Council of choosing candidates that represent the interests of the Iranian establishment.

One day later, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said that according to the Algiers Accords, the United States has agreed not to meddle in Iran’s internal affairs.

“The United States’ support of democracy is just a subterfuge and is all a show. It would be in Washington’s interest to abide by international law and to stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, “he said on Saturday.

“Those objecting to Iran’s Election mechanism have Guantanamo prison and drones over the rural parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan as blemish on their face””Those who use dubious money or the public money cannot win the public trust, “Ayatollah Khamenei said.

Advising people who to choose their ideal candidate he said: “People vote for those that work for the national esteem, resistance against enemies and making Iran a model for world oppressed.”

“The candidates’ slogans should be in order to consolidate the proud-making, proper and wise stances of the Islamic Republic regime.”

The post Iran’s Leader Gives Election Indicators, Slams US Interference first appeared on .

]]>
https://iransview.com/irans-leader-gives-election-indicators-slams-us-interference/747/feed/ 0 747
Iran to Launch Talks Between Syria’s Government and Opposition: Salehi https://iransview.com/iran-to-launch-talks-between-syrias-government-and-opposition-salehi/575/ https://iransview.com/iran-to-launch-talks-between-syrias-government-and-opposition-salehi/575/#respond Sun, 12 May 2013 14:59:12 +0000 http://www.iransview.com/?p=575 Iran could "launch talks between Syria's government and opposition", Iran's Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi told Germany's Der Spiegel newsweekly in an interview published on Sunday.

The post Iran to Launch Talks Between Syria’s Government and Opposition: Salehi first appeared on .

]]>
Iran could “launch talks between Syria’s government and opposition”, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi told Germany’s Der Spiegel newsweekly in an interview published on Sunday.

With fears the war, now in its third year, could turn even deadlier, diplomatic efforts have been ramped up, with Russia and the US last week renewing joint efforts to find a solution to the crisis.

Salehi told Spiegel his country was willing to take part in an international conference on Syria proposed by the US and Russia, which could take place later this month.

Salehi said he was “confident” that progress was being made in the conflict, which is estimated to have killed 70,000 and displaced millions more internally and in neighboring countries.

Iran’s foreign minister also condemned the use of chemical weapons and appeared to offer to mediate in the Syria crisis.

“We condemn chemical weapons,” Ali Akbar Salehi told 

Iran, a strong Damascus ally, was itself a victim of chemical warfare during its conflict with Iraq in the 1980s, Salehi recalled.

Tehran is “categorically against all weapons of mass destruction”, he said.

Damascus government accused militant opposition groups of using chemical weapons against Syrian people and called for a UN probe to investigate the file.

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday said there was “strong evidence” the Assad’s forces had used chemical weapons against militiamen, but the UN said there was no incontrovertible evidence yet.

The post Iran to Launch Talks Between Syria’s Government and Opposition: Salehi first appeared on .

]]>
https://iransview.com/iran-to-launch-talks-between-syrias-government-and-opposition-salehi/575/feed/ 0 575
Iran’s Leader Sends Message: Unlimited Support For Syria And Warns Jordan https://iransview.com/irans-leader-sends-message-unlimited-support-for-syria-and-warns-jordan/529/ https://iransview.com/irans-leader-sends-message-unlimited-support-for-syria-and-warns-jordan/529/#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 09:36:22 +0000 http://www.iransview.com/?p=529 Following the recent Israeli air strikes on Damascus, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei sent a message of “full and unlimited support” to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, the Lebanese newspaper Al- Akhbar reported on May 8th.

The post Iran’s Leader Sends Message: Unlimited Support For Syria And Warns Jordan first appeared on .

]]>
Following the recent Israeli air strikes on Damascus, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei sent a message of “full and unlimited support” to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, the Lebanese newspaper Al- Akhbar reported on May 8th.

The message was handed over by Iran’s Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi to Assad during Salehi’s short visit from Damascus on Tuesday.

In the message, Al-Akhbar reported, Ayatollah Khamenei assured Assad of Iran’s full political, Military and economic support for the Syrian leadership and for people to confront the “Takfiris, terrorists, Israel, the U.S. and all who may dare to attack the country.”

On Friday and Sunday, Israeli warplanes carried out two airstrikes on Syria. Afterwards, the Syrian government called the attacks a “flagrant violation of international law.”

“It’s time to stop the Zionist regime’s aggressions against the people of the region,” Salehi said during his meeting with President Assad according to a report by Lebanese Al-Manar TV.

“We’re on your side and will not let Syria fall into the hands of Israel or the U.S. or the Takfiris,” he added.

Takfiri’s are religious fanatics who use violence to compel people to their way of thinking.

Prior to his visit to Syria, Iran’s foreign minister arrived in the Jordanian capital of Amman on Monday and had separate meetings with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Prime Minister Abdullah Nsour on Tuesday.

According to Al-Akhbar newspaper, Salehi imparted “a clear and unequivocal message of Iran’s strong commitment to protect Assad and Syria,” to the Jordanian King Abdullah.

“You must be aware that if the US decides to go to war with Syria, your kingdom will go in the process,” this message, Jordanian sources described as a direct message from Iran’s Supreme Leader. It warned the Jordanian king of the “American trap that threatens your throne and will wipe Jordan off the map.”

“The Islamic Republic is ready to provide you what you need in the face of pressures and to avoid the conflict moving into Jordan,” Salehi said to King Abdullah and underlined “Iran’s willingness to transfer Jordan into its camp.”

According to the sources of Al-Akhbar who are close to the Jordanian royal court, “King Abdullah was friendly and listened to the Iranian message. He assured Salehi that Jordan will not be interfering in Syria.”

Syria has been experiencing a deadly unrest since March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of security personnel, have been killed by foreign-backed militants, which Damascus says are trained and supported by the Western powers and their allies in the region.

Several international human rights organizations have accused foreign-sponsored militants of committing war crimes.

The post Iran’s Leader Sends Message: Unlimited Support For Syria And Warns Jordan first appeared on .

]]>
https://iransview.com/irans-leader-sends-message-unlimited-support-for-syria-and-warns-jordan/529/feed/ 6 529
Iran’s FM: We Will Not Let Syria Falls Into the Hands of Israel or US https://iransview.com/irans-fm-we-will-not-let-syria-falls-into-the-hands-of-israel-or-us/510/ https://iransview.com/irans-fm-we-will-not-let-syria-falls-into-the-hands-of-israel-or-us/510/#respond Wed, 08 May 2013 02:33:10 +0000 http://www.iransview.com/?p=510 Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi reaffirmed Tehran’s support from Syria in a meeting with the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Tuesday.
“It’s time to stop Zionist regime aggressions against the people of the region,” Salehi said Assad on recent Israeli air strike on Syria.“We're on your side and will not let Syria fall into the hands of Israel or U.S. or Takfiris,” he added.

The post Iran’s FM: We Will Not Let Syria Falls Into the Hands of Israel or US first appeared on .

]]>
Ali Akbar Salehi and Bashar al-Assad (Photo Credit: SANA)
Ali Akbar Salehi and Bashar al-Assad (Photo Credit: SANA)

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi reaffirmed Tehran’s support from Syria in a meeting with the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Tuesday.

“It’s time to stop Zionist regime aggressions against the people of the region,” Salehi said Assad on recent Israeli air strike on Syria.

“We’re on your side and will not let Syria fall into the hands of Israel or U.S. or Takfiris,” he added.

After the meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister, Bashar Assad was quoted by Lebanese Al-Manar TV as saying the country is able to confront Israeli aggression.

“The recent Israeli aggression expose the size of the complicity between the Israeli occupation, regional countries, and the West in backing the current events in Syria,” Assad said in his first remarks since Israeli warplanes conducter airstrikes on Syria over the weekend.

“The Syrian people and their heroic army… are capable of confronting this Israeli adventure, which represents one of the faces of terrorism that is targeting Syria every day,” he added.

Ali Akbar Salehi, heading a high-ranking delegation, arrived in the Jordanian capital of Amman on Monday in the first leg of his Middle East tour.

In Amman, Salehi had separate meetings with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Prime Minister Abdullah Nsour on Tuesday.

In Amman, Salehi stressed Iran’s opposition to any foreign intervention in Syria and called for a negotiated solution to the crisis in the Arab state.

“We reject any foreign intervention in Syria and we don’t want Syria to plunge into crisis…,” Salehi said in a joint press conference with his Jordanian counterpart, Nasser Judeh, in Amman on Tuesday.

“The Syria crisis and its consequences for the region are very heavy, and must be peacefully settled within the framework of a Syrian-Syrian solution. [If] any political vacuum occurs in this country, its consequences would affect all [regional] countries,” he said.

On Friday and Sunday, Israeli warplanes carried out two airstrikes on Syria. Afterwards, the Syrian government called the attacks a “flagrant violation of international law.”

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has sent letters to the UN Security Council stating that Israel’s aggression shows the links between Tel Aviv and terrorist groups operating in Syria, including the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front.

Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoabi told reporters in Damascus on Sunday that Syria had the right and the duty to defend its people by all available means and it would not give in to Israeli acts of aggression.

The post Iran’s FM: We Will Not Let Syria Falls Into the Hands of Israel or US first appeared on .

]]>
https://iransview.com/irans-fm-we-will-not-let-syria-falls-into-the-hands-of-israel-or-us/510/feed/ 0 510
Militants Have Used the Nerve Gas Agent in Syria: UN Investigator https://iransview.com/militants-have-used-the-nerve-gas-agent-in-syria-un-investigator/472/ https://iransview.com/militants-have-used-the-nerve-gas-agent-in-syria-un-investigator/472/#respond Mon, 06 May 2013 14:39:11 +0000 http://www.iransview.com/?p=472 Testimony from victims of the conflict in Syria suggests militants have used the nerve gas agent, sarin, U.N. human rights investigator Carla del Ponte said in an interview with Swiss TV.

The post Militants Have Used the Nerve Gas Agent in Syria: UN Investigator first appeared on .

]]>
Testimony from victims of the conflict in Syria suggests militants have used the nerve gas agent, sarin, U.N. human rights investigator Carla del Ponte said in an interview with Swiss TV.

Despite US and UK claims, Del Ponte said there are no evidence of government forces might also have used chemical weapons.

On the question of whether chemical weapons had been used, he called for an “end to the politicization of this issue” and to the “whipping up of an anti-Syrian atmosphere”.

Damascus is “genuinely worried” that Syria’s enemies could provide chemical weapons to armed groups “and then claim they had been used by the Syrian government,” Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar Ja’afari said in letters to the UN Security Council and the UN secretary general on December 17, 2012.

A boy, affected in a chemical weapons attack by Syrian Militants is treated at a hospital in the Syrian city of Aleppo. (Photo Credit: REUTERS/George Ourfalian)
A boy, affected in a chemical weapons attack by Syrian Militants is treated at a hospital in the Syrian city of Aleppo. (Photo Credit: REUTERS/George Ourfalian)

“Our investigators have been in neighbouring countries interviewing victims, doctors and field hospitals. According to their report of last week, which I have seen, there are strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof of the use of sarin gas, from the way the victims were treated,” she said.

Sarin is a powerful neurotoxin developed by Nazi scientists in the 1930s which can cause respiratory arrest and death, and is classed as a weapon of mass destruction, banned under international law.

In meantime, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi headed to Jordan today to “discuss a political breakthrough from Syria crisis,” according to a statement by Ramin Mehmanparast, spokesman of Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, Hossain Amir- Abdollahian, will visit Syria this week.

“We are concerned by the signs that global public opinion is being prepared for possible armed intervention in the internal conflict in Syria,” Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister said on Monday.

US Secretary of State John Kerry also will travels to Moscow this week to discuss Syrian issue with his Russian counterpart.

“ Russia calls on nations to stop politicizing the issue of the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria, escalating anti-Syrian sentiment,” Lavarov.

The post Militants Have Used the Nerve Gas Agent in Syria: UN Investigator first appeared on .

]]>
https://iransview.com/militants-have-used-the-nerve-gas-agent-in-syria-un-investigator/472/feed/ 0 472
Iran’s Elections 2013: The Reformists are Playing Ball https://iransview.com/latest-political-array-of-iran-presidential-election/423/ https://iransview.com/latest-political-array-of-iran-presidential-election/423/#respond Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:08:35 +0000 http://www.iransview.com/?p=423 Six months after the 10th Presidential Election, the dust had settled and Tehran was calm after a period of unrest. The opposition didn't reach their goal to cancel the election. It was clear that Iran's 11th Presidential Election will be a significant one.

The post Iran’s Elections 2013: The Reformists are Playing Ball first appeared on .

]]>
Elections 2013 Candidates, Left to Right: Mohmmad Reza Aref, Gholamali Hadad-Adel, Ali Akbar Velyati, Ali Akbar Nategh-Nori
From Left to Right: Mohmmad Reza Aref, Gholamali Hadad-Adel, Ali Akbar Velyati, Ali Akbar Nategh-Nori

Six months after the 10th Presidential Election, the dust had settled and Tehran was calm after a period of unrest. The opposition didn’t reach their goal to cancel the election. It was clear that Iran’s 11th Presidential Election will be a significant one.

In 2009, various opposition groups from inside and outside of Iran, formed the opposition coalition, with the majority of them being the so called “Reformists”. Reformists views are closer to those of Western countries and despite the “Pricipalists” ideology (which is Islam first), they imagine that Western culture and politics, can be embedded in Islamic ideology with a few modifications.

After the 10th Presidential Election, the opposition claimed fraud in the voting and this went on for months. [Just as the opposition in Venezuela is now doing (perhaps the same paymasters)] Senior Iranian officials offered legal ways to pursue the legitimacy of the votes through the Guardian Council, but they refused and the Supreme Leader accused them of trying to topple the government.

The accusation was made once the majority of the opposition stopped street protests. Accordingly, In the eyes of Iranian officials, only those opposition leaders which continued to pursue an incitement to protest were accused that they were acting in collusion with Iran’s enemies, meaning the US and Israel.

In spite of requests from Iranian officials, the Leaders of the Reformist movements defended their acts of 2009.

The dissension between Reformists and the government led to a belief in public opinion that they won’t take part in the 11th Presidential Election; Because they think the Islamic Republic was not a worthy entity for the people’s vote.

But political observers have witnessed statements from Reformist activists citing the importance of being a part of these Presidential Elections. Four Reformists have declared their candidacy so far; even though most of the activists insist on Khatami’s candidacy.

Iran’s Former President (1997-2001), Muhammad Khatami was among the opposition leaders of 2009. He didn’t condemn the acts in 2009 against the Islamic Republic and was on the same dangerous path as Mir Hussein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi. According to security officials, since January 2011, Mousavi and Karroubi were under 24/7 surveillance so that they would not attempt any revolt.

Muhammad Reza Aref declared his candidacy on behalf of Muhammad Khatami, because Khatami’s supporters  suggest he won’t he wont run in the elections.

We can conclude that the majority of the Reformist groups are confused. They don’t know whether Khatami will enter the controversial Presidential race or if he will try to defend his acts in the past. Because Iranian officials claim that if Khatami insisted that his 2009 stance was correct then this could be interpreted as an act of treason and such a person does not merit to be the President.

Based on these facts, some activists say that if Khatami doesn’t pledge loyalty to Iran’s leader and the revolution, he won’t pass the vetting process. The Iranian constitution demands that the Guardian Council examines the qualifications of any candidate.

Khatami, who’s chance of candidacy is very low, said that he doesn’t want to be rejected by an Islamic Republic establishment, meaning the Guardian Council.

Despite the objection from some of the reformists, those close to Khatami are trying to convince him to become a candidate. But they say that if he doesn’t take a step, Ali Akbar Hashemi, a former Iranian President would be a good replacement.

Mohsen Hashemi, his older son said there are many pressures for his father’s candidacy, and he encourages his father to take the plunge.

Hashemi himself didn’t show a willingness to be a candidate but has said that he will support the final winner.

The fragmentation among the reformists didn’t impact moderate members of the movement like Hasan Rohani, Chief of the Supreme National Security Council in the Khatami administration, Mostafa Kavakebian, Head of the Mardom Salari party and Muhammad Shariatmadari, Minister of Commerce in Khatami’s administration have declared candidacy and have even began their campaigns.

Developments at the Principalists front are totally different. They have come up with more than 10 candidates and it is expected that there will be more before the vetting process begins on the 14th May.

Here is a list of Principalists’ declared candidates:

1-   Mohsen Rezaee, Former Chief Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and currently the Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran

2-   Alireza Zakani, member of the Iran’s Majlis (Parliament).

3-   Ali Fallahian, Minister of Intelligence in the cabinet of President Hashemi Rafsanjani from 1989 to 1997.

4-   Kamran Bagheri Lankarani, Minister of Health and Medical Education in the first cabinet of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

5-   Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel, former chairman of the Iranian Majlis.

6-   Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the current mayor of Tehran and a candidate in the Iranian presidential election of 2005.

7-   Ali Akbar Velayati, the foreign minister of Iran from 1981 to 1997. Currently he is an advisor on International Affairs to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

8-   Yahya Al-Eshagh, Minister of Commerce under Cabinet of President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (1989–1997)

9-   Mohammad-Reza Bahonar, The First deputy of the Majlis speaker.

10- Seyyed Mohammad-Hassan Aboutorabi-Fard, The second deputy of the Majlis speaker.

11- Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, Minister of the Interior of Iran (2005-2008).

12- Manouchehr Mottaki, Minister of Foreign Affairs (2005- 2010).

Yet some of these candidates have made coalitions to beat their opponents. They’ll remain united until the public through surveys shows a preference for one final candidate and then the others in the coalition should support him.

“Pishraft” coalition is the most significant one, consisting of Ali Akbar Velayati, Gholamali Haddad Adel and Muhammad Bagher Ghablibaf. Each one of them are trying to attract more attention and raise their chance of victory against the two others in the coalition.

Seyef Muhammad Hassan Abutorabifard, Muhammad Reza Bahonar, Yahya Al-eshagh, Mustafa Pourmohammadi and Manuchehr Mottaki form another notable coalition called “Coalition of the Majority of Pricipalists”.

The post Iran’s Elections 2013: The Reformists are Playing Ball first appeared on .

]]>
https://iransview.com/latest-political-array-of-iran-presidential-election/423/feed/ 0 423
Iran’s Ex-FM says Supreme Leader had Accepted a Plan to Solve the Nuclear Issue https://iransview.com/irans-ex-fm-says-supreme-leader-had-accepted-a-plan-to-solve-the-nuclear-issue/380/ https://iransview.com/irans-ex-fm-says-supreme-leader-had-accepted-a-plan-to-solve-the-nuclear-issue/380/#respond Sat, 20 Apr 2013 21:12:41 +0000 http://www.iransview.com/?p=380 Iran’s former Foreign Minister said during one of his meetings with Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he presented a proposal for “reaching an agreement with the group of P5+1 in nuclear talks,” and Ayatollah Khamenei accepted the proposal.

The post Iran’s Ex-FM says Supreme Leader had Accepted a Plan to Solve the Nuclear Issue first appeared on .

]]>
Iran’s former Foreign Minister said during one of his meetings with Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he presented a proposal for “reaching an agreement with the group of P5+1 in nuclear talks,” and Ayatollah Khamenei accepted the proposal.

Ayatollah Khamenei Greets Manouchehr Mottaki, Then Foreign Minister (Left) during a meeting in 2010 with the President Ahmadinejad's Cabinet Members. In the Middle is Ali AKbar Velayati, Supreme Leader's Special Adviser on International Affairs.
Ayatollah Khamenei Greets Manouchehr Mottaki, Then Foreign Minister (Left) during a meeting in 2010 with the President Ahmadinejad’s Cabinet Members. In the Middle is Ali AKbar Velayati, Supreme Leader’s Special Adviser on International Affairs.

Manouchehr Mottaki, who served as Iran’s Foreign Minister from 2005 to 2010, and has now announced his candidacy for the Presidential elections in June, told Iran’s Supreme Leader in the last months of his service that “We are ready to reach an agreement with the P5+1.”

“[In this scenario] we also should make the West accept our rights and allow them to announce that they convinced Iran to accept their demands,” Mottaki said as he explained his plan to Ayatollah Khamenei.

The plan, apparently, proposed to accept of some of the P5+1 demands as a face-saving step for the western side.

Speaking in a conference of “Union of Islamic Societies of Independent Students” in Tehran, Mottaki said on Friday that he suggested Iran should declare the Supreme Leader’s Nuclear Fatwa (religious edict, declaring that the production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons are all prohibited in Islam), and increase cooperation with the IAEA, despite all of their sabotages.

“The Supreme leader accepted my plan, [then] we discussed it with President Ahmadinejad and [following his order] a 4- member team was formed,” he said. “but unfortunately I was dismissed after a few months,” Mottaki said.

On 13 December 2010, Mottaki was dismissed as foreign minister – while on an official tour of Africa – by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

President Ahmadinejad appointed the country’s then top nuclear official, Ali Akbar Salehi, to replace Mr Mottaki.

“We were [running] in a marathon, we had to manage sanctions and perform our policies simultaneously,” He said about his serving period as Iran’s Foreign Minister.

“On the nuclear issue since 2005 we have arrived at a new battle, we reached self-sufficiency in uranium enrichment and consequently are facing fresh pressures from the West,” Mottaki asserted saying “…for the one who has the upper hand, retreating will make him the loser.”

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council formulates the country’s nuclear policy. The nuclear policies formulated by the council would become effective if they are confirmed by the Supreme Leader. The Secretary of the council, Saeed Jalili acts as the chief nuclear negotiator of Iran.

Latest round of talks between Iran and the P5+1 group held April 5th and 6th in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The post Iran’s Ex-FM says Supreme Leader had Accepted a Plan to Solve the Nuclear Issue first appeared on .

]]>
https://iransview.com/irans-ex-fm-says-supreme-leader-had-accepted-a-plan-to-solve-the-nuclear-issue/380/feed/ 0 380