{"id":9017,"date":"2021-05-06T15:03:55","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T12:03:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?p=9017"},"modified":"2021-05-06T15:03:57","modified_gmt":"2021-05-06T12:03:57","slug":"khamenei-accuses-fm-zarif-of-repeating-hostile-words-of-enemies-i-do-not-vote-campaign-launched-to-boycott-2021-presidential-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/monitoring-and-translation\/iran-in-a-week\/khamenei-accuses-fm-zarif-of-repeating-hostile-words-of-enemies-i-do-not-vote-campaign-launched-to-boycott-2021-presidential-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Khamenei Accuses FM Zarif of Repeating \u201cHostile Words of Enemies;\u201d \u201cI Do Not Vote\u201d Campaign Launched to Boycott 2021 Presidential Elections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Consensus of \u201cPrinciplists:\u201d A Few Points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we approach the presidential election in Iran, the editorial of Arman Mell, penned by \u201cprinciplist\u201d political activist Nasser Imani, explains how \u201cprinciplists\u201d can reach a consensus over a candidate to maximize their chances of winning the election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no consensus among the \u201cprinciplists\u201d or the \u201creformists\u201d over who to endorse for the upcoming presidential election. This is an issue that both trends are dealing with. The \u201creformist\u201d parties have said that they will follow the consensus that will be reached, but it remains to be seen whether this will happen or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cprinciplists\u201d haven\u2019t reached a consensus either; they are still waiting to see who will run for the presidency. Will the head of the judiciary Ebrahim Raisi and the Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf decide to run? Who will be running against them? Based on these circumstances, the \u201cprinciplists\u201d might reach a majority or even absolute consensus. Absolute consensus means all the \u201cprinciplist\u201d currents will agree over a candidate, while a majority consensus means most of these currents will reach an agreement over a candidate but some currents will reach a consensus over another candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raisi ought to remain in his significant position in the judiciary branch. He should continue what he has started there. But if he decides to run for the presidency, then the issue will be different. But if Raisi isn\u2019t nominated for the presidency, Ghalibaf will run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naturally the consensus that will be shaped over Raisi will not be formed over Ghalibaf. In other words, instead of absolute consensus, we will be witnessing a majority consensus among the \u201cprinciplists.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of candidates has not been finalized as yet, as the Guardian Council will be vetting them. If, for example, 20 well-known figures from the different political currents want to run for the presidency, the council will approve of only four or five candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, the \u201creformists\u201d have lost their social base, but it doesn\u2019t mean that the \u201cprinciplists\u201d will definitely win the presidential election. If there are multiple candidates, this will make it more difficult to reach a consensus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arman Melli<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Necessity of Understanding Teachers\u2019 Problems<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Teachers\u2019 Day in Iran, May 2, the media and internet are awash with beautiful narratives celebrating the essential role of teachers in everybody\u2019s life. The editorial of Tejarat stresses that what is usually ignored is how teachers have to cope with a lot of pressure to live their lives, given all the economic and social problems they have to deal with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teachers\u2019 Day is an excuse to do whatever we can to celebrate teachers and the role and position they have in our lives. On this day, meaningful, celebratory articles will be seen everywhere on the internet. Those who have achieved great things because of their teachers\u2019 efforts will pay tribute by recounting positive memories about them. And those who haven\u2019t listened to their teachers celebrate them differently, admitting that their teachers did everything they could to help them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In all these narratives, we are obsessed with ourselves. But what is not seen is the conditions of teachers\u2019 lives. If once the teacher was angry in the classroom and couldn\u2019t tolerate the students, we never asked ourselves the reason why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were never concerned that the teacher as the father of the family had got up very early in the morning to go and work as a taxi driver to provide for them. And when the school hours were over, he had to once again become a taxi driver to make some money. We were never concerned that the teacher as the mother of the family had to get up early to prepare breakfast for her family and then come to school to teach us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, we have no understanding about teachers\u2019 challenging lives. Given the rate of inflation and high prices, we have no idea how much pressure they have to cope with. We have never paid attention to how they are living their lives with their miserable salaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tejarat<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Society Demands Transparency<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The editorial of Aftab Yazd stresses the fact that the Iranian establishment must share the facts and information with the Iranian people, as the lack of transparency is a threat to the country\u2019s security and peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iranian society needs transparency and accountability from the political authorities. The most important way to guarantee transparency is giving the correct news and information to people regarding all political and economic events and incidents, so that the citizens can have transparent access to the government\u2019s information and policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far, there has been no resolve or attempt to communicate with the Iranian people transparently and to help ensure national participation. An obvious case is the existing healthcare policy, as it is quite clear that there is no transparency with regard to coronavirus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, political processes require government transparency. The lack of transparency from the establishment towards Iran\u2019s young and educated society, as well as with the country\u2019s strong intellectual trends, has most certainly created many problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil society has grown weak and people are not treated fairly. It is very shocking to them when certain facts are exposed \u2013 given the fact that in this age of the internet and the consequent information explosion, these facts will be eventually disclosed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials might release information, and that will not create dangerous conditions in the country. But the  lack of transparency and the lack of commitment to dialogue with people will be a serious threat to the country\u2019s security and stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The emergence of different platforms and the internet have considerably changed the world. How information is given to society determines its health. The Iranian people are obviously upset by the lack of transparency and how the establishment is disseminating news and information and consider officials as untrustworthy who don\u2019t tell the public what is actually going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Iranian establishment must have become politically mature enough by now to realize that society must monitor power. Transparency and holding decision makers accountable is not a taboo. And this will give confidence to the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aftab Yazd<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today\u2019s Economic Situation Is the Result of Tying Everything to the JCPOA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The editorial of Asr-e Iran, written by lawmaker Hossein Khosravi Asafzar, asserts that today\u2019s deteriorating economic condition is because Hassan Rouhani\u2019s government rushed to sign and implement the JCPOA with Europe and America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Rouhani has said that whoever misses the opportunity to lift US sanctions is \u201ca traitor.\u201d But it is the other way round as well: whoever misses the opportunity to neutralize US sanctions is a traitor too. According to Imam Ali, one of the signs of a government\u2019s collapse is not learning from the lessons of the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weren\u2019t eight years enough for learning the lesson? Don\u2019t we want to learn the lesson? Europe and America are not committed to their obligations. At certain junctures, they might sign an agreement, but if they see any weaknesses, they will impose sanctions again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the negotiations that were held by the government, we gave everything we had, and now it is not to the country\u2019s advantage to beg the other parties to fulfill their obligations. The results of tying everything to the nuclear deal (JCPOA) are the critical rate of unemployment, inflation, and economic pressure on people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economic problems have put people under a lot of cultural and psychological pressure. And if the government doesn\u2019t want these problems to be repeated, it should learn the lesson and not make hasty decisions. In the Parliament\u2019s strategic bill for lifting sanctions, we gave a deadline to Europe and America, telling them that if they lift sanctions, we will return to our obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some said back then that John Kerry\u2019s signature was a guarantee and rushed to implement the JCPOA. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was told in the Parliament that this English word means to \u201csuspend\u201d and not \u201crescind,\u201d but he didn\u2019t accept it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, we must not rush to sign and implement an agreement so that we don\u2019t repeat past mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asr Iran<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Khamenei Accuses FM Zarif of Repeating \u201cHostile Words of Enemies\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A week after a controversial interview with Iran\u2019s foreign minister was leaked, stirring up considerable controversy in Iran and abroad, the Iranian supreme leader made a speech addressing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ali Khamenei railed at Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, saying \u201cthese words are the repetition of the hostile words of our enemies and America.\u201d Khamenei also expressed his regret that foreign media had broadcasted Zarif\u2019s statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that interview, Zarif unprecedentedly criticized the IRGC\u2019s dominance over Iran\u2019s foreign policy, stating that Iran prioritized the military field over diplomacy. Zarif accused former Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani of damaging diplomacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reaction to those statements, Khamenei defended the IRGC Quds Force and Soleimani\u2019s performance by saying: \u201cThe Quds Force is the greatest effective factor in preventing a passive diplomacy in West Asia.\u201d Khamenei pointed out that Americans have been extremely upset about Iran\u2019s influence in the region for years, adding that they were also upset with Soleimani for the same reason and that is why they killed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe should not say something which might mean that we are echoing their words, whether about the Quds Force or about Shahid Soleimani,\u201d asserted Khamenei. He then asserted that foreign policy is not determined by the Foreign Ministry; the top authorities are responsible for it: \u201cOf course, the Foreign Ministry participates in it but as the executor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, Khamenei reacted to Zarif\u2019s words about Soleimani conspiring with Russia to prevent the JCPOA from coming to fruition and driving Iran into the Syrian war at Russia\u2019s direction. Khamenei noted that after the 1979 revolution, the West has had no dominance over Iran, therefore, it does not approve of Iran\u2019s relations with China and Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Zarif asked for forgiveness from Qassem Soleimani\u2019s family in a post on his Instagram page, saying \u201cif I knew that even one sentence of my remarks was going to be publicized, I would not say it as I did in the past.\u201d Zarif also mentioned that his statements in that interview were honest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mashregh News<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radio Farda<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVaccine-gate\u201d in Iran; Vaccines Imported Sold up to 12 Times More Expensive<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While less than 1.5 percent of the Iranian population have been vaccinated so far, there are official and unofficial reports regarding corruption in importing and selling vaccines in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the National Headquarters for Combating Coronavirus, the private sector can import vaccines approved by the Iranian Health Ministry. The government and other institutions have repeatedly underscored that the private sector can import vaccines using forex at the government price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the spokesperson of the Iranian Food and Drug Organization, some companies that have imported vaccines have no connection to this field, and have submitted invoices that are sometimes 12 times more than the real price of the vaccines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Kiyanoush Jahanpour, invoices for a vaccine actually worth $10 to  $25 are submitted at the price of $70, or a vaccine that is $4 or $5 is sold to the government at $50; this is an example of \u201cvaccine-gate\u201d and is suspicious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been reported that in addition to the false price of imported vaccines, there has been corruption and discrimination in the distribution of vaccines as well, including vaccinating some managers and officials out of turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, spokesperson for National Headquarters for Combating Coronavirus Alireza Raisi announced with regard to importing vaccines by the private sector that if the brand of vaccine is American but is produced in another country, \u201cwe will authorize purchasing it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is in contradiction to the Iranian supreme leader who had ordered not to import American or British vaccines. Raisi said in this regard that the vaccine brand is not important, \u201cwe just don\u2019t buy it from America and Britain. You must know that AstraZeneca is a British brand, but we have purchased it from South Korea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far, in Iran a little more than 1 million people have at least received one dose, and a little more than half a percent of the population has received two doses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran Emrooz<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BBC Persian<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Education Ministry Hires 25,000 Seminary Students as Teachers to Islamize Schools<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Iran\u2019s Education Ministry has announced that it would employ 25,000 seminary students as teachers in order to \u201cIslamize\u201d schools. \u201cThis is a legal measure and in accordance with the ratifications of the Parliament and the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution,\u201d said the ministry in a statement in reaction to a Shargh daily report in this regard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministry noted that the Parliament had passed a law on hiring clergy and seminary students by the Education Ministry in 1996. Meanwhile, the headquarters of joint cooperation between the Education Ministry and seminaries supported the recent employment plan, stating that only 440 seminary students have been hired as teachers in the past year and this number is not high enough. The headquarters added that hiring male and female seminary students as teachers is a part of the \u201cdocument of fundamental transformation of education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The headquarters also mentioned that the seminaries have been in charge of education in Iran for centuries and \u201ccurrently the document of fundamental transformation of education is a revival of cognitive and religious values.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A day before this announcement, however, the Iranian Teachers Trade Association issued a statement, protesting against the Education Ministry\u2019s recent measure, as well as teachers\u2019 low salaries and lack of insurance and job security. The statement also called for releasing the imprisoned teachers, including Esmaeil Abdi \u2013 former head of the Teachers Trade Association \u2013 who had been arrested several years ago in the wake of a nationwide teachers\u2019 strike in Iran. To end suppressive confrontations against teachers was another demand included in this statement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, Iranian teachers have held a number of nationwide assemblies and strikes to protest against violations of their union rights and inadequate livelihood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran International<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magiran<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI Do Not Vote\u201d Campaign Launched to Boycott 2021 Presidential Elections in Iran<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Less than two months to Iran\u2019s presidential elections, a number of civil and political activists have launched a campaign called \u201cI do not vote\u201d inviting people to join an \u201cactive\u201d and \u201ctargeted\u201d boycott of the elections in order to neutralize the attempts of the government to acquire its lost legitimacy through holding elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement, signed by the executive headquarters of this campaign, the 2021 presidential election is called a \u201cshow election\u201d which only allows those wholly devoted to serving the government to be elected. Therefore, this election is \u201cfar from the principles of free and fair elections\u201d and its boycott is \u201cin defense of Iranian citizens\u2019 dignity and their right to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement also says boycotting the presidential election would be a \u201cheavy defeat for those who guard and implement theocracy\u201d in Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSaying no to the ballot boxes \u2013 which are only used as a decoration \u2013 means saying no to discrimination, oppression, pervasive poverty, institutionalized corruption and demeaning the elections to a mere cover for hiding the authoritarian nature of a government which is against its people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The activists launching this campaign believe that boycotting the elections is \u201ca part of the transition to democracy and fair and free elections\u201d in Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran\u2019s 13th<\/sup> presidential election is to be held on June 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DW<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we approach the presidential election in Iran, the editorial of Arman Mell, penned by \u201cprinciplist\u201d political activist Nasser Imani, explains how \u201cprinciplists\u201d can reach a consensus over a candidate to maximize their chances of winning the election.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":9020,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[1841,5795,1637,386,5796],"class_list":["post-9017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-iran-in-a-week","tag-boycott","tag-hostile-words-of-enemies","tag-iran-in-a-week","tag-khamenei","tag-vote"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9017"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9017\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9022,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9017\/revisions\/9022"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}