Khamenei: The Guardian Council Should Reconsider!

The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has called on the Guardian Council of the Islamic Republic to reconsider its recent decision to disqualify thousands of reformist candidates from participating in the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 1. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that the reasons for disqualification should be examined to prevent the violation of the rights of each electoral candidate. He also mentioned that individuals should only be disqualified from candidacy if there is sufficient evidence and documentation to justify such actions. The Guardian Council's decision to disqualify about half of the 8,000 electoral candidates in Iran has created a political crisis. More than 80 current members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, including some who have been recognized as unqualified by the Guardian Council, are affected. Meanwhile, the sit-in by reformist representatives in the building of the Islamic Consultative Assembly continues. They refused to accept proposals from Mohammad Khatami, the President of the Islamic Republic, to end their sit-in on Wednesday. Khatami has expressed the opinion that negotiations could resolve the current political crisis in Iran. On Tuesday, the Guardian Council, whose members are appointed and not elected by the people of Iran, stated that it is fulfilling its legal and religious duties and will not yield to threats of resignation from Khatami's government members and governors across Iran. The members of the Guardian Council have not provided any explanations to the public regarding their decision, but according to news reports, the candidacies of some reformists have been rejected on the grounds of not adhering to Islamic principles.