Ahmadinejad's Position in the 'Yekta' Organization

According to a report from the Tehran-based newspaper Shargh on Tuesday, some ministers from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government have established a party named 'Yekta'. Abdolreza Davari, a close associate of the former president, described the founding of the party 'Front of Efficient and Transformative Companions of Islamic Iran' as an initiative by the ministers and the vice president of the previous administration, stating that no consultation was made with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad regarding the establishment of this party. In an interview with Radio Farda, Mehdi Mahdavi Azad commented on this party: 'The name 'Yekta' comes from 'Efficient Companions and Transformation of Islamic Iran'. We see no sign of Ahmadinejad's four symbols: social justice, fighting corruption (which his supporters called a burglar alarm), standing firm in the nuclear case against the West, and finally, superstitious thoughts regarding the Mahdi and claims that the Imam of the Time has appeared or has a connection with Mr. Mashai and Ahmadinejad. Therefore, theoretically, it is an unknown entity. Politically, the arrangement of individuals is completely chaotic. We have Mr. Lankarani, close to Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, on one side, and Mr. Hajibabaei, close to Mr. Larijani's faction, on the other. Mr. Kamran Daneshjoo is close to Mr. Taeb and the IRGC intelligence. This political combination does not yield much. The overall situation indicates that the group named Yekta is positioned between the Stability Front on the right and the Militant Front on the left, ultimately forming a spontaneous, mushroom-like, and undocumented group that has emerged on the eve of elections. Such parties generally do not have a clear political agenda or discourse and are formed based on the proximity and personal relationships of individuals, as well as their financial resources, to engage in activities during the election period. Although Mr. Mahdavi Azad did not officially mention Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a member of this party, what will his position be in this organization? A large part of reformist media inside Iran believes that what is known as mushroom groups among Ahmadinejad's supporters is a tactical separation, and they will ultimately converge at a point before the presidential elections of 96. They believe this is actually a tactic to deceive public opinion and observers. In my opinion, the matter is serious. Mr. Ahmadinejad wants to return to power. The serious underground provincial trips he has been making, his willingness to finally distance himself from Mashai, and his rejection of Mr. Rahimi indicate that Ahmadinejad is serious. Additionally, recent meetings in Mashhad and Shiraz show that Ahmadinejad is committed. However, there are also serious disagreements within Ahmadinejad's team. The dissolution of the media conglomerate supporting Ahmadinejad, amid political disgrace, proves that disagreements within Ahmadinejad's team are serious. The overall reactions suggest that we are facing a disorganized collective phenomenon, just as during Ahmadinejad's governments; lacking structure, lacking goals, and solely based on personal interests, Ahmadinejad's position could change based on events. If, on the eve of the 96 elections, the principlists do not have another figure and Ahmadinejad can obtain permission to participate in the elections from Ayatollah Khamenei, all these groups will rally around Ahmadinejad. However, if Ayatollah Khamenei opposes him, Ahmadinejad will naturally be easily forgotten. As for the perspective of other political parties in Iran, especially the principlist faction, towards the Yekta party, how much possibility is there for cooperation among them? The structure of the principlists, represented by figures like Mr. Larijani, Bahonar, etc., naturally has a negative view of this entire movement. The radical and hardline principlists, represented by Mr. Mesbah Yazdi and the Stability Front, also have a negative view of such parties and consider themselves the core and authentic group. Traditional principlists like Mr. Nateq and his faction also have serious demarcations with these groups. This personal movement cannot gather the support of principlist factions. At the same time, it is not powerful or serious enough to withstand their serious resistance. It can continue its role on the fringes of the principlist faction.