Jannati: Important Positions Are the Right of Hezbollah Youth

The Secretary of the Guardian Council in Iran says that this council does not listen to anyone when rejecting or approving the qualifications of election candidates and does not allow those who do not have a heartfelt belief in the 'line of Imam and the leadership of the jurist' to enter the parliament. Ahmad Jannati, in a speech on October 5, once again raised the issue of the qualifications of candidates for the upcoming Iranian parliament elections. This issue has recently sparked a series of reactions and criticisms from conservatives in Iran, following statements made by Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran. Even the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic reacted to it. Ahmad Jannati also referenced the words of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. According to the IRNA news agency, he stated, 'The Guardian Council will not allow a group that does not have a heartfelt belief in the system and the constitution of the Islamic Republic, the line of Imam, and the leadership of the jurist to enter the Islamic Consultative Assembly and take important positions in the country's decision-making institutions.' According to Mr. Jannati, these positions 'belong to the Hezbollah, revolutionary, and faithful youth.' Ahmad Jannati claims that 'foreigners' intend to 'infiltrate' Iranian cultural centers and 'replace our Islamic culture with Western culture.' Hassan Rouhani, at the end of August, emphasized that in the eyes of the government, 'everyone is equal' for the Iranian parliament elections, stating, 'The one who should say whether a person is qualified to participate in the elections or not is the executive board.' Rouhani's statements provoked reactions. Ultimately, the Supreme Leader defended the Guardian Council in mid-September, describing it as 'the watchful eye of the people and the system in elections.' The execution of presidential elections, the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Assembly of Experts, and councils is carried out by the Ministry of Interior of Iran under the supervision of the central executive board of elections. According to a decision made in March by the Expediency Discernment Council, this board is formed with the presence of the Minister of Interior and Intelligence, the heads of the Inspection Organization and the Court of Accounts, a representative from the parliament, the Attorney General, and seven 'trusted' cultural, social, and political figures. According to Hassan Rouhani, the Guardian Council is a 'supervisor' of the elections, not an 'executor' of them.