The Economist : Fissures at Top of Islamic Regime ‘Show No Signs of Healing’
Add The Economist to a list which includes The New York Times, The Guardian, and the Rachel Maddow Show of major media outlets that are stating the breakdown of the Iranian establishment as a result of the nation’s highly contested tenth Presidential election:
Some had hoped this could be a defining moment in the protests against the election results. But the sermon offered few surprises. Mr Rafsanjani held back from criticising by name Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, or Mr Ahmadinejad. This came as a disappointment to those hoping for a more explicit challenge to the regime.
Mr Rafsanjani did, however, cast further doubts on the election results and went on to describe the situation in Iran as a crisis. He echoed Mr Mousavi’s appeals for the release of those protesters who have been arrested and called for the media to be allowed to operate freely. He warned that people had lost their faith in the regime and argued that the government had to regain the trust and consent of the people. He signed off by stressing that all Iranians are part of the same family and must remain friends and allies.
Mr Rafsanjani avoided sounding too confrontational but there was enough in his speech to worry Mr Khamenei and Mr Ahmadinejad. Unlike Mr Khamenei’s speech at Friday prayers a month ago, Mr Rafsanjani’s address was not broadcast on state television though it did go out on radio. That it was not shown on television (as Friday prayers usually are) suggests that the government is still nervous about the aftermath of the contentious election. Opposition rallies have largely died down since July 9th but on Friday protesters turned out in their thousands despite warnings from the authorities not to use the occasion as “an arena for undesirable scenes”. This reinforces the depth of anger felt by Iranians about the election and all that has followed.
Mr Ahmadinejad was notably absent at the Friday prayers. He was meant to be in Egypt this week for a meeting of the non-aligned movement but sent his foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, in his place. His decision not to attend suggests that he is still anxious about Iran’s unstable politics.
The fissures at the top of the Islamic regime show no signs of healing. With more senior clerical figures coming out in support of Mr Mousavi, the ruling elite is looking increasingly divided between the clerics and the military. The criticism from clerics is particularly galling for Mr Khamenei who has always felt insecure about his religious credentials. The Revolutionary Guard has stuck by Mr Khamenei and Mr Ahmadinejad so far.
A former president’s speech shows the widening splits between Iran’s rulers [The Economist]
The Economist‘s take on Rafsanjani‘s sermon [Twitter]
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