Raisi's Campaign Headquarters Responds to Claims of 'Billions' in Expenses

The campaign headquarters of Ebrahim Raisi denied the statements of Rasoul Montajebnia, the deputy of the National Trust Party, regarding expenses amounting to 'tens of billions of tomans' for this campaign and expressed readiness to disclose its election expenses simultaneously with Hassan Rouhani's campaign. According to Fars News Agency, Raisi's headquarters announced on Friday, June 12, that it reserves the 'right to pursue legal action against these false statements.' The headquarters of the unsuccessful presidential candidate of the 96 elections stated its readiness to publish all its expenses with 'complete details' if the list of Hassan Rouhani's campaign expenses is released. Raisi's headquarters also stated that all expenses for this presidential candidate were covered by 'public donations' and that this headquarters did not use 'even one rial' from public funds, government budgets, or the facilities of the Astan Quds Razavi. In Iran, there is no law regarding the disclosure of candidates' election expenses, and such expenses are rarely announced. Rasoul Montajebnia had stated in an interview with the 'Nameh News' website that Ebrahim Raisi and the principlists spent 'tens of billions of tomans' in the elections and that 'extravagance and wastefulness in advertising' were among the reasons for their defeat. He emphasized, 'It is unclear where this money came from. Those who constantly talk about corruption and fighting corruption, have they found a treasure or used the Imam Reza fund?' Previously, Hassan Rouhani had also accused his rival of using the facilities of the Astan Quds Razavi and military institutions for his advertising. In response, Raisi's supporters accused government officials of using state resources to benefit Rouhani and protested instances such as 'the presence of several cabinet ministers and their deputies at campaign rallies.' The Popular Front of the Islamic Revolution Forces also accused Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday of 'taking unethical and subversive positions' in the elections, citing his remarks about 'building walls in the streets' if his rivals win and introducing Ebrahim Raisi as 'the execution judge and murderer' as evidence that 'the officials of the eleventh government recognize no red lines for maintaining their power.' Meanwhile, Gholamali Haddad Adel, a member of this group, described Hassan Rouhani's remarks as 'subversive' and stated that 'Mr. Raisi has not sentenced anyone to death, and if this sentence was issued for the hypocrites, it should not be regarded negatively.' Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, stated on Tuesday, April 18, in Hamadan that 'the people of Iran declare that they do not accept those who have only known executions and prisons for 38 years.' Ebrahim Raisi, along with several others, including Mostafa Pourmohammadi, the Minister of Justice in Rouhani's government, was a member of the decision-making committee regarding the execution of political prisoners in 67. According to an audio file released from a meeting of committee members with Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, the then-deputy leader of the Islamic Republic, the actions of this committee are described as 'criminal.' At that time, Ebrahim Raisi was a deputy prosecutor in the decision-making committee for the executions of the 60s. Mr. Raisi is also the prosecutor of the Special Court for Clergy, the same court that sentenced Ayatollah Montazeri's son to 21 years in prison for releasing the audio file of his remarks to the execution decision-making committee, a sentence that is enforceable for six years. Ahmad Montazeri previously described Ebrahim Raisi's candidacy in the presidential elections as 'a joke' and 'an insult to the Iranian nation.' In response to Hassan Rouhani's attacks on Ebrahim Raisi, critics of Rouhani also refer to his remarks regarding the student protests of July 78. He had stated, 'Fortunately, all branches of the system, officials of all powers, unanimously agree on a decisive and revolutionary response to these opportunistic elements, and the judiciary will perform its legal, religious, national, and revolutionary duties well in the coming days.' Warning from the Political Deputy of the President's Office about 'Bipolarization' Meanwhile, as discussions about the presidential elections continue, the political deputy of the President's Office warned about the consequences of continued 'bipolarization' after the elections. Hamid Abutalebi, referring to the 4% and 96% division of Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf during the elections, wrote on Twitter that 'the action for severe bipolarization in the country, post-elections, is designed to expand from the economic sphere to the cultural and media arenas.' He warned that if bipolarization of the community continues after the elections, 'the post-election calm will turn back into turmoil, and the confrontation between believers and non-believers will narrow the space for building the country and direct social concerns towards dissatisfaction.' Mr. Abutalebi emphasized that 'this confrontation will likely extend to the institutions and councils of the country, jeopardizing their unity and creating a bipolarity between the government and its supporters against non-governmental entities.' Two weeks after the presidential elections, statements from supporters of rival candidates against each other continue in the media and websites.