Saeedi: What Will Happen If They Make a Cleric into a Scholar and He Becomes President?

Ali Saeedi, the representative of the Supreme Leader in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has warned against the activities of 'behind-the-scenes' elements of the 2009 protests, stating that someone who 'makes a scholar out of a cleric' could pose a threat to the revolution if they become the head of the Assembly of Experts. Although Saeedi did not name the individual in question, his hints align with Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of the Expediency Discernment Council. In April of this year, Rafsanjani stated at a conference that 'Ayatollah Hassan Khomeini is a distinguished scholar who analyzes issues well and his advanced lessons in Qom are noteworthy.' Rafsanjani's remarks about Hassan Khomeini have previously drawn reactions from close associates of the Supreme Leader, including Sadegh Larijani, the head of the judiciary, who called this a mockery of the seminaries. Now, Saeedi has implicitly linked Rafsanjani's support for Hassan Khomeini to 'sedition,' warning that the elements of the '2009 sedition' are planning again. Ali Khamenei and the conservatives close to him refer to the 2009 protests as 'sedition.' On Wednesday, January 9, during a conference in Tabriz, Saeedi referred to the protests following the 2009 presidential election, saying: 'In 2009, a combination of reformists and officials gathered to complete their project, creating a comprehensive confrontation and conditioning the people, resulting in various layers.' He added: 'In seditions, the back layers and behind-the-scenes remain intact, and theorists again engage in plotting behind the scenes.' The representative of the Supreme Leader in the IRGC emphasized: 'The behind-the-scenes elements of the 2009 sedition are once again planning, and someone who makes a scholar out of a cleric, if they lead the Assembly of Experts, what will they do with the revolution? I am truly worried.' Saeedi continued: 'In the early Islamic history, some moderates and independents who claimed to be non-partisan dealt the greatest blow to the Commander of the Faithful, while moderation regarding leadership means absolute obedience to the leadership.' He stated: 'In the elections for the Assembly of Experts, the people must demonstrate their obedience to the leadership and choose someone who is not just a verbal supporter of the leadership but practically follows it. Today, the mission of the Islamic Iranian nation is heavier than all nations in the early Islamic history, and making the right choice in voting is a significant responsibility.' As the time for the Assembly of Experts elections approaches, supporters and close associates of the Supreme Leader, as well as conservatives, have intensified their attacks on Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. They have warned against the presence of reformists in the Assembly of Experts and have urged the Guardian Council to act decisively in disqualifying candidates. In this context, Ahmad Khatami, a member of the Assembly of Experts' board of directors, previously stated that reformists would not even succeed in forming a powerful minority in the next term of this Assembly, which he claimed would remain 'velai' (loyal to the leadership).