Advisor to the Commander of the IRGC: Shariatmadari Insists on Claiming the Leader Thinks Like Him

Hamidreza Moghaddamfar, the cultural and social deputy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), on Sunday, August 25, accused Hossein Shariatmadari, the representative of the Supreme Leader in the Kayhan newspaper, of insisting on conveying to his audience that the Leader thinks like him. On Saturday, August 24, in his 'Daily Note' in Kayhan, Shariatmadari referred to Ali Khamenei's views on the Vienna agreement, citing Khamenei's speech during the Eid al-Fitr prayers this year. He continued to write that the content of this speech 'leaves no doubt' that Ayatollah Khamenei 'is not at all satisfied with the prepared text [of the nuclear agreement].' Shariatmadari also stated that Ali Khamenei 'is fully aware of the deficiencies and catastrophic consequences of the mentioned agreement.' This is the first time an official of the Islamic Republic has publicly commented on Ayatollah Khamenei's views regarding this agreement. Now, according to Tasnim news agency, one day after the publication of this note, Hamidreza Moghaddamfar published a note criticizing Shariatmadari's statements. In his note, the advisor to the IRGC commander writes to Shariatmadari: 'How is it that a revolutionary brother like you insists on conveying to your audience that the Leader thinks like me?! Analyzes like me?! And understands like me?!' The cultural and social deputy of the IRGC further writes: 'While His Excellency [the Supreme Leader] has made clear positions on this matter in his Eid al-Fitr speech and has communicated transparent content to the system's personalities, etc.' Moghaddamfar adds: 'If we have to choose between the direction of the Supreme Leader's information base on this matter or your writing, which one should we choose?' This IRGC official concludes his note by stating, 'Do you not think that in a situation where revolutionary forces need unity and cohesion more than ever, such positioning creates a duality and rift among revolutionary forces? Would it not be better to position yourself in a way that maximizes your own positions rather than speaking on behalf of the Leader?' The comprehensive nuclear agreement between Iran and Western powers was reached on July 23, 2015, but Ali Khamenei has not yet publicly expressed approval or disapproval of the nuclear agreement. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of the Expediency Discernment Council, on August 4, during a speech, mentioned that the Iranian nuclear negotiations began positively with Ali Khamenei's approval before the recent presidential elections in Iran, stating that 'the critics were unaware to oppose.' The term 'critics' refers to a group of critics of the nuclear negotiations who label Rouhani's government as 'compromising' regarding the nuclear agreement, and Kayhan has supported the positions of the 'critics' at various times regarding the nuclear agreement. The Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Supreme National Security Council are expected to announce their findings regarding the approval or rejection of the Vienna nuclear agreement in the coming days.