Threats to Discredit Rowhani and His Cabinet

Rooz Online

Even though Hassan Rowhani’s administration has been in office for just a few months, some principlist personalities – hardline conservatives espousing the ideals of the 1979 revolution – have already threatened the new president and members of his cabinet with exposes of “certain issues.”

The brother of former president Mahmud Ahmadinejad for example told Ghanoon newspaper, “We have in our possession documents against cabinet ministers of the government which reveal the violations that have taken place, but we will remain silent (for now) because we follow the words of the supreme leader who has not made any comments (on this) yet.”

While Dawood Ahmadinejad did not specify the details of his threats or name which cabinet members he was talking about, current oil minister Bijan Zanganeh had been accused of financial corruption during the Majlis hearings and vote on Rowhani’s cabinet nominees.

Dawood Ahmadinejad’s remarks came shortly after the head of the Foundation for Research and History of the Islamic Revolution, Hamid Rowhani had told Fars news agency, “Let’s not engage in negative issues and God-willing he (Rowhani) will perform in a manner that bring our lasting admiration. But if he, God-not-willing, intends to follow Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani’s footsteps and views himself to be the executioner of his policies, then we shall talk.” But then he qualified his remark by adding, “The issue is not only viewing Rafsanjani as a godfather and there are many other issues as well. We hope God-willing that Mr. Rowhani understands that he should not go anywhere with Mr. Rafsanjani’s depleted rope because he will be harshly hurt.”

Since Mr. Rowhani came to office, many principlists have criticized his closeness to Rafsanjani and have called for him to distance himself from Rafsanjani. Earlier, before Rowhani had presented his cabinet nominees to the Majlis for confirmation, Mohammad Hossein Saffar Herandi, the cultural advisor to the supreme Revolutionary Guards commander had made some snippy remarks on the issue. “Perhaps Mr. Rowhani will stand up to some individuals so show that he is not their stooge,” he said.

In addition, another senior cleric from the establishment, Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani, who heads the Experts Assembly on Leadership – a position that Hashemi Rafsanjani held until two years ago – echoed these words when he said, “When the supreme leader endorsed Mr. Rowhani’s presidency he had said that the transfer of authority (to Rowhani) was not absolute. Our positions too are conditional: The person who becomes president must stomach the problems to be successful.”

Principlists generally fear that the closeness between Rowhani and Rafsanjani can result in the latter’s control of some issues in the country, something they believe will create problems for the country. Prior to the June 2013 elections, Mr. Rowhani had been portrayed as Rafsanjani’s shadow and many principlist media outlets believed that Rowhani ran for the presidency on Rafsanjani’s call.

Vatan newspaper, for example, which is close former president Ahmadinejad criticized Rafsanjani’s language after Rowhani emerged the winner of the June 2013 presidential race. “The language that Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani used in his meeting with the choice of the people has created this view that he belittles the stature of the presidency. Look at this sentence, ‘I had come to see whether his work was progressing or not and noted that work was moving well.’ The question is what position or office Mr. Rafsanjani came from. Does he have a supervisory position over the presidency? And in response Mr. Rowhani said he would use Mr. Rafsanjani’s counsel. These types of remarks create concerns about what things may take place behind the scenes after Mr. Rowhani starts his work.”