Kayhan's Advice to Hassan Khomeini to Withdraw from Elections

The newspaper Javan, close to the Revolutionary Guards, published a note titled "Do Not Lose Sight of the Main Conspiracy," calling for a "spring cleaning" in the Foreign Ministry and executive apparatus. At the same time, the newspaper Shahrvand reported that Friday prayer leaders in several cities stated during this week's Friday prayers against the attackers of the Saudi embassy in Tehran: "It was the work of infiltrators." This newspaper also reported that Imam Kashi, during the Friday prayers in Tehran, described the attackers of the Saudi embassy as "infiltrators, fools, and ignorant." The newspaper Qanoon reported that "Safar Ali Baratlou, the security and police deputy of the Tehran governorate, has been dismissed due to 'mismanagement' during the attack on the Saudi embassy." The newspaper Etemad, in its front page, announced the "beginning of a two-day expert meeting between Iran and the 1+5 in Geneva" and wrote that concurrently with this meeting, "John Kerry spoke of the complete readiness of the United States to lift sanctions." The representative of the Supreme Leader in the editorial of Kayhan advised Hassan Khomeini to use the opportunity of not participating in the Ijtihad exam for the Assembly of Experts candidates to withdraw from the elections, while also emphasizing to the Guardian Council to refrain from approving the Ijtihad of the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic. The newspaper Shargh reported on its front page the "possibility of confirming the Ijtihad of those absent in the exam" held by the Guardian Council, stating: "The spokesperson of the Guardian Council made new statements regarding the status of those who did not participate in the Ijtihad exam." The newspaper Qanoon, while publishing a report titled "Forced Money Tunnels," stated that it has not been long since the news of the monetization of tunnels emerged, but according to the City Council, the time for its implementation has arrived, although this news has faced many reactions, including from the governor, mayor, and even members of parliament. Akbar Turkan, a senior advisor to Hassan Rouhani, warned in an interview with the newspaper Aftab Yazd about the reproduction of Ahmadinejad's thinking in governance. The senior advisor emphasized that "Ahmadinejad's thinking is being produced," telling the newspaper: "The production of this thought does not mean its influence and positivity, but rather because a source is constantly producing it." The newspaper Shahrvand reported on "11,800 missing doctors" in the health system. This newspaper quoted Alireza Zali, head of the Medical System Organization of Iran, stating: "In a study from a year and a half ago, it was found that 11,800 individuals who graduated in various medical fields did not refer to the Medical System and the Ministry of Health. They have either become active in other sectors or have emigrated. We do not have accurate statistics on these individuals." The newspaper Iran announced on its front page the "beginning of registration for applicants to purchase goods," stating: "The second part of the government's anti-recession facilitation policy begins today. While the first section of the government's facilitation policy in the anti-recession package has ended with the registration of 110,000 applicants for a 25 million toman car loan, the second part, which is more significant and important than the car, namely the issuance of a 10 million toman card for purchasing durable goods, has been finalized, and from today those prioritized in this plan will receive this card." This newspaper also reported that from Saturday, "the registration system for marriage loan facilities will open, and couples with tracking codes can register for a credit card in this system." The newspaper close to the Revolutionary Guards: The diplomatic and executive apparatus needs serious "spring cleaning." The newspaper Javan, close to the Revolutionary Guards, published a note titled "Do Not Lose Sight of the Main Conspiracy," calling for a "spring cleaning" in the Foreign Ministry. This newspaper described the rally after this week's Friday prayers against Saudi Arabia as "the million-strong protests of the Iranian people against the crimes of the Al Saud," writing that participants in this rally "demanded a dignified response from the executive and diplomatic apparatus of the country in facing regional developments." Abbas Hajji Najari, a columnist for Javan, emphasized that the process of regional developments after the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr "has entered a new phase, in which the role of Western-Zionist think tanks and even some regional governments cannot be ignored." The columnist wrote: "In recent years, the Saudis, who have been responsible for implementing part of the strategies of the hegemonic system in creating sectarian wars and even their main mission, have faced failure and defeat in almost all arenas." The columnist of this newspaper wrote: "Regardless of the consequences of the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran, which 'must be examined by the relevant authorities and legal action taken against the main perpetrators, this does not mean that the country's diplomacy has acted passively following that incident and has neglected to utilize Iran's opportunities in the field of regional developments and turned this incident into an internal confrontation in line with some chain media.'" The newspaper Javan emphasized that "the country's diplomatic process in recent months, following the Mina incident and the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, has led to a humiliation of national dignity," writing: "The opportunism of foreigners and Saudis in internal issues has peaked at a time when some foreign-affiliated elements inside have tried to accuse revolutionary institutions in this incident, effectively cooperating with the Congress's strategy to increase sanctions." The newspaper close to the Revolutionary Guards emphasized that "in the defensive and security arena, we have been able to neutralize and manage the enemy's scenarios, but in the internal and diplomatic arena, despite the existence of national capacities, this has not been realized," writing: "Recent developments have shown that the country's diplomatic and executive apparatus needs a change in strategy and serious spring cleaning." "Awaiting the Moment of the Death of Sanctions" The newspaper Etemad, in its front page on Saturday, reported on the "beginning of a two-day expert meeting between Iran and the 1+5 in Geneva," writing that concurrently with this meeting, "John Kerry spoke of the complete readiness of the United States to lift sanctions." This newspaper reported that "the expert meeting of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team and the 1+5 began on Thursday in Geneva, with Hamid Baidi-Nejad, director general of political and international security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leading the Iranian expert team in this two-day meeting." Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, had previously stated in a press conference in Tehran that "our colleagues and the 1+5 will hold meetings in Europe in the coming days to finalize matters regarding the JCPOA." The newspaper Etemad wrote: "The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with all its ups and downs, protests, and criticisms, is on its way to execution. Iran is completing its commitments under the JCPOA, and late January has been announced as the first probable date for the execution day, and John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, has also spoken about the approach to the execution day in his meeting on Thursday with reporters, having several phone and email consultations with his Iranian counterpart regarding the details of the JCPOA's implementation and the approach to the execution day." However, this newspaper noted that Kerry's remarks on Thursday came just hours after the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a new sanctions bill against Iran, as this committee passed a bill titled "Making it Difficult to Lift U.S. Sanctions Against Iran" and referred it back to the main chamber of the House for further voting. If this bill is approved in the House and then in the Senate, it will be enacted with the signature of "Barack Obama," the President of the United States. Advice from Khamenei's Representative in Kayhan to End Hassan Khomeini's Candidacy The representative of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic in the editorial of Kayhan advised Hassan Khomeini to use the opportunity of not participating in the Ijtihad exam for the Assembly of Experts candidates to withdraw from the elections and simultaneously emphasized to the Guardian Council to refrain from approving the Ijtihad of the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic. The editorial writer of Kayhan, referring to the fact that "Mr. Seyyed Hassan Khomeini's refusal to participate in the Experts exam, the result of which is the removal of his name, can be read as withdrawal from the list of candidates for the Assembly of Experts, has led to different opinions and interpretations, and speculations about this are still ongoing," wrote that this non-participation "indicates the intelligence" of Hassan Khomeini for "withdrawing" from candidacy. Hossein Shariatmadari emphasized that he has "accurate news" indicating that "not only was Mr. Seyyed Hassan Khomeini invited to participate in the Assembly of Experts exam like other candidates, but a special invitation was also extended to him," and described the trio published in the media regarding Hassan Khomeini's non-participation in the Ijtihad exam as "requesting a special invitation," "considering participation in the Ijtihad exam beneath his dignity," and "concern about unsuccessful performance in the exam." Kayhan then wrote: "If the aforementioned speculations are deemed insufficient in light of the evidence and reasons we have mentioned regarding Mr. Seyyed Hassan Khomeini's refusal to participate in the Experts exam, only one other reason remains that could have dissuaded the son of the late Imam from participating in the Experts exam, and that is a smart exit from a trap set by contaminated politicians before him." This newspaper also wrote about Hassan Khomeini's supporters in the Assembly of Experts elections: "A mere glance at the identity of some of those who have recently taken up the banner of support for Mr. Seyyed Hassan Khomeini's candidacy for the Assembly of Experts clearly shows that some of them - it should be emphasized some of them and not all of them - have no respect for the late Imam whatsoever," and at the same time implicitly warned Hassan Khomeini that "using the affiliation of the respected son of the late Imam to that great man cannot justify the deviation of individuals and currents distanced from the line of the Imam." The representative of Ali Khamenei concluded in the editorial of Kayhan by asking the Guardian Council to consider Hassan Khomeini's absence from the Ijtihad exam as a sign of his withdrawal from candidacy, writing: "These days, a theory has been raised with a probability that perhaps the Ijtihad of those who did not participate in the exam could also be confirmed through other means. Whatever this formula may be and for any of the candidates who did not participate in the exam, it is not advisable to apply it to the son of the late Imam, as it could create the illusion in public opinion that the esteemed Guardian Council has made an exception for the son of the late Imam, while this illusion does not align with the sacred status of the late Imam and the views and character of that great man." This newspaper even addressed Hassan Khomeini, stating that if the Guardian Council confirms his Ijtihad without participating in the exam, then "some individuals and currents, both inside and outside the country, who are waiting to undermine the system, will beat this deceptive drum, as if the son of the late Imam was worried about his unsuccessful performance in the exam." The Possibility of Confirming the Ijtihad of Absent Candidates in the Guardian Council Exam The newspaper Shargh reported on its front page the "possibility of confirming the Ijtihad of those absent in the exam" held by the Guardian Council, stating: "The spokesperson of the Guardian Council made new statements regarding the status of those who did not participate in the Ijtihad exam." According to this newspaper, Najatollah Abediniyan, the spokesperson of the Guardian Council, in his latest statements referred to the opinion of Mohammad Momen, a member of the clerics of this council, saying: "According to the announcement of Ayatollah Momen, a member of the Assembly of Experts, it is possible that in the continuation of the qualification assessments, a candidate who did not participate in the exam may have their Ijtihad conditions confirmed and be able to participate in the elections." Shargh emphasized that these statements by Najatollah Abediniyan could be "the latest position of the Guardian Council regarding the status of the qualification assessment of candidates who did not participate in the Ijtihad exam," reminding that "this exam was held in two phases, one on September 6 and the other on December 6, with familiar absent faces, the most controversial of which was Seyyed Hassan Khomeini." This newspaper also wrote: "Looking at the new positions of the Guardian Council regarding those who did not take the exam and also the other ways to confirm the qualifications of the candidates for the Assembly of Experts, it seems that either the Guardian Council has made changes to its positions, especially regarding prominent candidates, or it wants to consider other means, such as the scientific and teaching backgrounds of the candidates, rather than just the criterion of whether or not the candidates participated in the exam." Shargh emphasized that "in this case, the path is still open for the approval of Seyyed Hassan Khomeini and some well-known absent candidates on the day of the exam." This newspaper simultaneously reported on the criticism from "a source close to the household of Ayatollah Khomeini" regarding "the publication of unverified news about Seyyed Hassan Khomeini," stating that the household of Ayatollah Khomeini "is proceeding in accordance with the law." According to the newspaper Shargh, this "source close to the household of Ayatollah Khomeini" criticized "some media and individuals who sometimes call themselves supporters of Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Khomeini," introducing these media as lacking credibility and, of course, without any connection to the household," and stated: "These media have published unverified and inaccurate news about Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Khomeini and his permissions from the religious authorities," and "by publishing such unverified news, they have given opponents and critics of Imam the opportunity and have led to the continuation and intensification of attacks and smear campaigns against the household of the Imam."