Khatami's Resignation as President of Iran if Desired by the People, Associated Press - 2003-07-12

A report by Ali Akbar Darini, Associated Press reporter, on Friday, July 11, 2003, citing a report from a state newspaper in Iran, stated that on Saturday, following a surge in mass protests by the Iranian people regarding the lack of adequate responses to their reformist demands, President Mohammad Khatami announced his willingness to resign if the people desired it. This is the first time Khatami has officially suggested his resignation from his position. In recent months, the formerly popular president of Iran has faced increasing public pressure to adopt a tougher stance against the hardline faction in order to fulfill his promises related to demands for freedom and the establishment of democracy in Iran. According to the state newspaper 'Iran', Khatami stated: 'We are servants of the people, not their rulers. If our nation wants us, we will stay, and if they do not want us, we will go.' Khatami's speech took place in Karaj, located west of Tehran. The part of Khatami's speech regarding his resignation was omitted by Iranian state television and radio. The rejection of bills proposed by the presidency by the Guardian Council, which is responsible for final legal review, has led to the loss of all hopes for Khatami to negotiate with the opposing faction. According to this bill, the president would be granted more powers to prevent constitutional violations by the hardline faction, as well as to prevent the deliberate actions of the Supreme Leader regarding the unjust disqualification of candidates for the legislative and presidential elections. Khatami stated, 'We must approve the conditions related to various electoral candidates. If candidates feel that the program they voted for is an obstacle in their way, they will not participate in it.' The closure of more than 90 percent of democratic newspapers over the past three years, arrests, and trials behind closed doors without the presence of jury members are among the violations that Khatami has highlighted. Khatami also stated that ending the constitutional violations by the judiciary of the hardline faction is a responsibility assigned to him according to the same constitution.