Legal Deputy of Rouhani: Military Involvement in Elections is Prohibited Even 'Behind the Scenes'

Simultaneously with the statements of the spokesperson of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) regarding the resignation of Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr from this organization and his membership in the Front of Islamic Revolutionary Forces, the legal deputy of the President reacted to Mohsen Rezaei's support for this group, stating that military personnel's involvement in elections is prohibited even 'behind the scenes.' Majid Ansari, the legal deputy of the President, commented on Mohsen Rezaei's presence at the 'Popular Front of Islamic Revolutionary Forces' meeting, stating that he is not aware of the essence of this matter but 'certainly those who are in military positions cannot enter party, factional, and political classifications.' He emphasized on Tuesday, February 6, in an interview with Khabar Online that 'the people, supervisory, inspection, and judicial bodies' must be sensitive about the presence of military personnel in party, factional, and political classifications. He stressed that according to the words of Ayatollah Khomeini, the former leader of the Islamic Republic, military presence in politics is 'a lethal poison.' Mohsen Rezaei, who resigned from the command of the IRGC in 1997, has reportedly returned to the IRGC since last year. However, Mr. Rezaei's name has been mentioned among political figures supporting the new group 'Popular Front of Islamic Revolutionary Forces.' On January 17, Mr. Rezaei also stated in an interview with Fars News Agency that the 'Popular Front of Islamic Revolution' can 'cover all revolutionary groups.' On December 26, a new principlist group named 'Popular Front of Islamic Revolutionary Forces' was announced, with Mohammad Hossein Rahimian, a former representative of the leader of the Islamic Republic in the Martyrs Foundation, as the head of the founding board of this group, and Mehdi Chamran, Yahya Al-Asaq, Alireza Marandi, and Hamid Reza Hajibabaei, principlist figures, among the other members of this group. Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, the former deputy commander of the IRGC, is also the executive head of this newly formed group. Meanwhile, Ramadan Sharif, the spokesperson of the IRGC, announced that Mr. Zolqadr's request for retirement 'has been approved by the IRGC' and his speeches and presence in various gatherings 'are not related to the IRGC.' Mr. Zolqadr's membership in the 'Popular Front of Islamic Revolutionary Forces' comes while he is the strategic and crime prevention deputy of the judiciary, and no report has been published regarding his resignation from this position. The leader of the Islamic Republic on Saturday, October 16, communicated the general policies of elections in 18 articles to the heads of the three branches of government and the head of the Expediency Discernment Council. In Article 16 of these policies, 'favoring candidates' by the armed forces and the three branches of government and intelligence and security agencies is prohibited. However, Ali Saidi, the representative of the leader of the Islamic Republic in the IRGC, stated after the issuance of these policies that political activity is 'part of the essence' of this organization. Previously, IRGC officials denied the involvement of this organization in elections while stating that they engage in 'clarifying and enlightening' political currents. In recent years, the IRGC's interference has led to protests from some political figures, and some members of parliament, including Ali Motahari and Mostafa Kaveh Kabi, have protested against this organization's interference in elections. On February 1, Ali Motahari also stated in an interview with the Jamaran website, quoting Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, that due to Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani's complaint, '110 military commanders were convicted in court for interfering in the 2005 presidential elections.' Mr. Motahari also quoted Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani, stating that he refrained from executing this ruling because it would have been 'bad for the system.' The IRGC commanders have not yet reacted to Mr. Motahari's statements.