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Iranian President Unsure About Running For Re-Election
WASHINGTON, March 6 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Amid growing frustration against hardline opposition to his reforms, Iranian President Mohamed Khatami has strong doubts about running for re-election, said one of his close allies.
"As far as we know, Khatami has many reasons not to agree to run again," said deputy speaker of parliament Behzad Nabavi, quoted by Iran's news agency IRNA on Tuesday.
"Khatami feels he has not been able to fulfill his promises to the people and meet expectations, so he asks himself why he should stay in office," he said.
The president, who has kept quiet on the issue of the June presidential election, says he has faced one crisis every nine days since his election in 1997. He said that this had hampered his drive for a democratic Islamic republic and economic recovery.
"Khatami does not believe that he should stay president at all costs. He is a cultured man with mild manners. Facing so many crises is not in tune with his personality," said Nabavi.
A new hardline offensive has targeted ministers and top members of parliament. The conservative-led courts have banned dozens of reformist newspapers and Khatami's most trusted allies have been jailed or face prison.
Another reason influencing Khatami's decision is that the president believes it is pointless to stand for re-election if hardline conservatives continue to use their hold on other levers of power to thwart his reforms.
"We have paid a heavy price to carry on reforms, and Tajzadeh was the latest victim," added Nabavi.
Mostafa Tajzadeh, Deputy Interior Minister and the country's election chief, was sentenced on Sunday to year in prison on charges of vote rigging in last year's general elections, which reformers won by a landslide.
At the same time, Interior Minister Abdolwahed Mousavi-Lari faces prosecution for alleged electoral violations in the Special court for Clergy which has already imprisoned several of the president's aides.
"All these pressure are meant to force us to give up reforms, but we have no choice but to be patient and tolerate them," said Mohammad Reza Khatami, one of the President's brothers and a member of parliament.
Khatami who fears that violent protests may further undermine reforms, has urged his allies and followers to keep calm toward these pressures.
Reformists have warned their conservative opponents that Khatami, with his huge popularity, is the last chance for a peaceful transition in Iran, and say that if he stands down, the Islamic regime may collapse.
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