Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani: Rouhani Promised More Than His Executive Power

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council, while supporting Hassan Rouhani, stated that during his presidential campaign, he promised the people more than his executive power regarding "political issues" and freedoms. In an interview with the Aftab Yazd newspaper published on Saturday, March 23, he emphasized: "One of the discussions was political issues, and regarding freedoms, it is not solely up to him to decide. Of course, he promised more than his executive power. These matters are in the hands of other places." He stressed that "they should let" the President of Iran fulfill these promises and noted that Rouhani's "centers of power" do not "assist him," but the people support him. Previously, some reformist political figures in Iran criticized Rouhani's government for not prioritizing domestic politics and the performance of parts of his government, such as the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Culture. Meanwhile, Abdullah Ramazanzadeh, spokesperson for Mohammad Khatami's government, stated in September that reformists expect Rouhani's government to address domestic politics but do not criticize it. Some close associates of Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi have also criticized Rouhani's government for not prioritizing the lifting of house arrest for these two leaders of the Green Movement. Fatemeh Karroubi, Mehdi Karroubi's wife, remarked: "It seems that the house arrest and illegal imprisonments are not a priority for the government friends." However, the Saham News website, close to Mehdi Karroubi, reported on Saturday, January 30, that at Rouhani's directive, the issue of lifting the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, and Zahra Rahnavard is set to be on the agenda of the Supreme National Security Council. This report was later denied by Keyvan Khosravi, spokesperson for the Supreme National Security Council. In another part of this interview, Hashemi Rafsanjani stated: "I think if Mr. Rouhani is given a free hand, the issue of foreign policy is currently a significant matter, because there is bad pressure on the people from foreign policy, and if that issue is resolved, he can proceed well with his promises regarding employment, development, and everything he promised." He mentioned that the group known as the "Delvapasan" speaks "populist" words regarding Iran's nuclear negotiations with the 5+1 group, stating that "if they want to become rooted, it will make the future very difficult." On March 3, Hashemi Rafsanjani also said that the so-called "Delvapasan" in Iran has become "aligned" with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel. The term "Delvapasan" has been used in Iranian media following a conference called "Delvapasim" held on May 2 for critics of Iran's nuclear negotiations with the 1+5 countries, most of whom are close to the Stability Front. In another part of this interview, Hashemi Rafsanjani stated that the relationship between Iran and the United States should be established. He added: "I wrote a letter during the time of Imam and mentioned seven issues, asking him to resolve them during his lifetime, because I believed that after him, these issues would remain as a permanent taboo, and no one would dare to resolve them." The head of the Expediency Discernment Council clarified: "He acted on several issues, but did nothing on this one at that time. Of course, he also said that if America becomes reasonable, we do not want to remain enemies forever." Hashemi stated: "Well, I share the same opinion. If America is willing to work with us on an equal footing, I see no reason why a relationship should not be established. However, this is the right of others, and I cannot act on the rights of others." In 2013, Hashemi Rafsanjani's remarks about the letter to Ayatollah Khomeini elicited reactions from some close associates of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Ultimately, Hamid Ansari, deputy of the Institute for Compilation and Publication of the Works of Ayatollah Khomeini, announced that this private four-page letter dated April 4, 1987, addressed to Ayatollah Khomeini, and his failure to respond to this letter "is neither a rejection of the proposals nor an endorsement." Regarding the relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Hashemi Rafsanjani mentioned in this interview: "I had a plan, and that agreement was reached. In the past, that agreement was deliberately disrupted during the previous government, and they did not allow it. We had a long negotiation with King Abdullah, his companions, and their close associates, and we concluded that we should have 6-7 joint commissions in the regional conditions of that day, which still exist." He added: "We signed this agreement together... The Supreme National Security Council asked me to resolve these issues, and it was resolved well, but they obstructed it, and it did not happen." Hashemi Rafsanjani stated on February 23 that if these two countries, Iran and Saudi Arabia, come together, many of what he called "terrorists" would disappear.