June 14, 2009

Iranian Presidential Election News

Charlie Szrom

We provide here historical data on the Iranian election, including the below election night updates and continuous campaign news coverage. In this section, we also have data on:

 

 

ELECTION Night UPDATES

 

Please see today's Iran News Roundup for the latest news on the demonstrations and post-election situation in Iran. 

OVERALL VOTE COUNT

  • According to final results, Ahmadinejad won 62.3 percent of the vote. Many analysts had predicted a close race or a runoff; IranTracker's poll average had Ahmadinejad in the lead throughout the election campaign. 

  • FINAL RESULTS: The Interior Ministry, in a press conference in Tehran the afternoon of June 13, announced the final results of Iran's tenth presidential election: Out of a total of 39,165,151 votes, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won 24,527,516 (62.3 percent), Mir-Hossein Mousavi won 13,216,411 (33.75 percent), Mohsen Rezai 678,240 (1.73 percent), and Mehdi Karrubi 333,635 (0.85 percent). See source.

  • According to Fars News, 85 percent of voters turned out in the election.

  • (Old) Fars News Agency: The head of the Election Commission, Kamran Daneshjou has announced the current vote count: Out of 28,050,761 votes counted from 35,268 ballot boxes across the country (77.13 percent), Mahmoud Ahmadinejad leads with 18,302,924 votes (65.24 percent), Mir-Hossein Mousavi follows with 8,929,232 votes (31.83 percent); Mohsen Rezai is in third with 570,174 votes (2.03 percent), and Mehdi Karrubi in last with 248,431 votes (0.88 percent).

  • (Old - included for projection comparison purposes) Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA): According to latest vote count results, Ahmadinejad has won the elections by securing 68 percent of the vote. According to IRNA’s political correspondent, out of 11,170,000 votes counted, 68 percent goes to Ahmadinejad and 29 percent to Mir-Hossein Mousavi.

  • (Old) Alef News reports that Ahmadinejad has secured 24 million out of 36 million votes counted so far. The rest has gone to Mousavi, Karrubi and Rezai.  

  • (Old) Fars News Agency reports that the latest vote counting results show Ahmadinejad has secured 21 million of 33 million votes cast in June 12 presidential elections, and the remaining 12 million have gone to the other three candidates, including those voided.

  • (Old) IRNA declares Ahmadinejad the winner of the Islamic Republic of Iran's tenth presidential election; Alef News reports the incumbent has won 19 of 28 million votes counted thus far.

Provincial Results

  • Ardabil: From 637,632 valid votes, Ahmadinejad received 325,910 votes, over half of the total votes. Mousavi obtained 302,825, Rezai 6,578, and Karrubi 2,319 votes.

  • East Azerbaijan: From 2,010,358 votes, Ahmadinejad won 1,131,111 (56.75 percent), Mousavi 835,857 (42.03 percent), Rezai 16,920, and Karrubi 7,246. Turnout was 87.81 percent and 17,277 votes were voided.

  • Gilan: Of 1,483,258 votes, Ahmadinejad has received 998,573 votes cast; 94 percent of the eligible voters turned out in Gilan Province, according to official source.

  • Hamadan: Ahmadinejad wins in Hamadan with 765,183 votes (75 percent); Mousavi trails with 218,436 votes (21 percent), Rezai follows with 13,117 votes and Karrubi with 12,028 votes.

  • Khorasan Razavi: Of 3,078,414 votes in 25 cities of the province, Ahmadinejad wins in Khorasan with 2,217,597 votes, Mousavi 882,443 votes, Rezai 44,213 votes, and Karrubi 13,509 votes.

 

 

RESULTS FROM IRANIANS LIVING ABROAD
  • Iraq: Ahmadinejad won 12,636 votes and Mousavi 3,760 votes.
  • Kuwait: Of 11,712 votes cast, Ahmadinejad received 7,325 votes, Mousavi 3,837 votes, Mohsen Rezai 471 votes, and Mehdi Karrubi 79 votes.
  • Malaysia: Mousavi wins in Malaysia 4,065 votes, Ahmadinejad follows with 430, Karrubi with 224, and Rezai with 105, according to Fars News.
  • Qatar: According to Iran’s Ambassador to Qatar, Mohammad Tahir Rabani, Ahmadinejad has won a majority of votes from Iranians living in Qatar with 2,600 votes out of 4,600 votes cast; Mousavi trails with 1,500 votes.
  • Syria: According to IRNA, Ahmadinejad leads election result in Syria with 69.22 percent of the vote. Out of 10,378 votes cast, Ahmadinejad has received 7,184, Mousavi 2,860 (27.55 percent). Rezai 153 votes and Mehdi Karrubi 60.

 

International Reactions

 

 

Election News From Iranian Sources

 

This is general news related to the election, please see the below links for information specific to each candidate:

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Campaign News

Mir-Hossein Mousavi Campaign News

Mehdi Karrubi Campaign News

Mohsen Rezai Campaign News

 

June 13-14 News Roundup

  • Please see here for the latest news on the demonstrations and post-election situation in Iran. 

June 12 News Roundup (Evening)

  • According to Alef News Agency, Ahmadinejad wins the presidential election in Iran by winning 19 out of 28 million counted votes.
  • Election Headquarters Chief Kamran Daneshjou, commenting the result of the counted first ten million votes, says Ahmadinejad has received 7,027,919 million votes, which is ca. 68.08 percent of the vote, and Mir-Hossein Mousavi only 2,955,131 votes. Rezai comes third with 162,909 votes and Karrubi in fourth with 88,474 votes.
  • IRNA declares Ahmadinejad winner of the tenth presidential election in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
  • A few minutes ago, Mousavi declared himself "decisive winner of the tenth presidential election in Iran."
  • In a public statement, Mir-Hossein Mousavi thanks the Iranian nation for participating in the presidential election, and claims victory despite "irregularities." Mousavi also urges the nation to celebrate his victory.
  • Former Interior Minister Abdollah Nouri votes for the first time in ten years.
  • Former Vice President Mohammad-Ali Abtahi says there has been consultations among Rezai, Mousavi and Karrubi to discuss "matters of concern."
  • Karrubi headquarters chief Mehdi Karrubi, in an open letter, criticizes shortage of voting forms.

 

June 12 News Roundup (Afternoon)

  • (E) The Ministry of Interior stated that, with over 5 million Iranians voting before noon Friday, it expected 70 percent of the eligible population to vote.
  • (E) The Ministry of Interior extended polling until 10 PM due to such high voter turnout.
  • (E) Supreme Leader Khamanei encouraged all Iranians to take part in the election, after casting his own ballot, stating: “I call on all Iranians to exercise their right by casting their votes and to play their role in determining the highest level of the country's management, which is their religious and rational duty.”
  • (E) To ensure security during the election, Iran’s law enforcement launched Operation Sovereignty in Tehran at 5 PM; it will last until the voting count ends.
  • (E) All political gatherings and campaign activities banned on Friday.
  • (E) Ayatollah Jannati stated that “no major problem has been reported since the opening of the polls this morning,” except from some “isolated incidents.
  • (E) Ayatollah Mohammad Emami-Kashani commented on the purpose of high voter turnout, stating that “the enemy has focused on the election because it wants to find an excuse to downplay the Iranian nation's participation in the election… so a massive turnout in the elections is a response to the enemy and will serve Islam.”
  • (E) Chairman of Iran's Expediency Council Rafsanjani called the election “among the most important and epoch-making events in the history of Iran” because “After this election, Iran will be able to increase its influence on the international arena.”
  • (E) Deputy Spokesman for US State Department Ian Kelly commented on the Iranian election, stating: "We [the US] are watching this political process very closely. We wish the Iranian people success,” but refusedto remark on his favorite candidate.
  • (E) Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki asserted that the foundation of Iran’s foreign policy will not change regardless of the election results, stating: “Different governments choose different approaches regarding Iran's foreign policy but these principles will not change.”
  • According to Fars News, preliminary count shows Mousavi leading in West Azerbaijan province.
  • The Guardian Council says election participation is as high as 70 percent.
  • Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says there is "300 percent increase" in election participation of expatriate Iranians.
  • Guardian Council Spokesman Kadkhodayi says there is 50 percent increase in election participation in Tehran.
  • Rafsanjani's wife says if Mousavi does win it is due to fraud. (link upon request)
  • Following shortage of voting forms ,the Mousavi campaign asks the people not to return home before voting.
  • The polls closed all over Iran at 10 pm.
  • Comments made at the ballot box:
    • Supreme Leader Khamanei casting his vote says "rumors made about me [ed. about support for Ahmadinejad and a harsh response to Rafsanjani's complains ] is the work of untrustworthy people...the people should not pay attention to rumors." Khamanei adds: As always what I want from the people is that they, from this very morning, should go to the ballots and vote according to their personal conviction and play their role in choosing the supreme administration of the country. This is a right and simultaneously a duty. It is the right of our people to make their opinion known and it is also their duty. Also, according to my belief this is both a religious and rational duty to do so...During the past days and even at nights I have been informed that the people were present in the streets and the people chanted slogans as they pleased. But maturity and awareness of the people did not allow any bitter occurrences. This in reality showed that the people are in the arena, express their happiness and enthusiasm but also show their maturity, also mental maturity...We have had elections for the past thirty years and thanks God the elections have always been secure which is a great blessing thanks to divine insight and level of knowledge of the people. Also, today I both hope and beg for that the masses of the people pay attention and be present in such a way that the security, along with their own calmness, dignity and spiritual consolation is preserved. Should anyone, any ill wisher should want to make any tension at the ballot this tension would be detrimental to the people and the popular vote. The people should with their dignity and respect and with patience see to it that the hopes of the ill wishers are not realized...Yesterday and last night I saw that that there were many SMSs sent to the people and certain rumors made about me that are absolute lies. It was not real. It is not well-wishing people and healthy people who do such things. This is the deed of unhealthy people who may be present in every group and assemblies and groups. But the people should not pay attention to such rumors. It is also possible that this kind of rumors are distributed among different segments of the population. We trust first and last in benevolence of God and divine assistance. We pray to God and ask for assistance and we also trust in awareness of the people and their intelligence..." Aftab News also stresses there has not been any "conflict" between Rafsanjani and the Supreme Leader.
      • Office of the Supreme Leader refutes rumors of Khamenei answering Rafsanjani's letter of complain against Ahmadinejad.
      • Emtedad-e Mehr News Agency ridicules Rafsanjani's letter to Khamenei and asks what has become of the money the Rafsanjani clan made on the STATOIL contract.
    • Parliamentarian Alireza Zakani: "Those already defeated in the presidential election are using the issue of 'The Committee for Defense of the Vote' as a banner behind which they can hide after defeat."
    • As Rafsanjani casts his vote, he says there is nothing more important than protecting the vote: "This time the election is much more sensitive than ever before." 
  • SMS service shut down all over Iran.
  • (E) Karrubi stated: “We should all respect the people's decision and support the elected president” and “If I am not elected this turn, I will vigorously continue my activities in my party.”
  • (E) Rezai urged the nation to unite and work together, regardless of the results of the president election.
  • (E) Commenting on the election, Mousavi stated that “the nation's presence was in fact a miracle. Seeing the nation stand united is a golden opportunity and not a threat” yet still urged the government to act justly and ensure freedom of information.

 

June 12 News Roundup

 

June 11 News Roundup

 Presidential Election: General

  • (E) As a security precaution, General Ismail Ahmadi-Moqaddam announced that all campaigning is forbidden starting Thursday at 8 AM.
    • Public election gatherings prohibited from tomorrow.
  •  Rafsanjani met Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei last night to discuss his open letter of complaint against Ahmadinejad. 
  • (E) The Guardian Council reminded election officials of their neutrality, stating: “Observers and polling officers are entrusted with the vote of the people, which they must safeguard. None of them must allow their preferences to affect their performance, as it would be against religious ethics, morality and the law.”
  • (E) Iran’s Ambassador to Iraq Hassan Kazemi Qomi announced that 12 ballot boxes will be set up across Iraq for Iranians living there to participate in this week’s election.
  • (E) The pro-Reformist newspaper Yas-e Now shut down again.
  • (E) There are unconfirmed reports that former Parliament Speaker Nateq-Nouri will supervise the election with the Guardian Council.
  • (E) Former President Rafsanjani met with Supreme Leader Khamanei for three hours after expressing his concerns in a letter about the fairness of this election.
  • (E) Symbols used for the presidential campaigns, including Iran’s flag or the color green, are banned on Friday.
  • (E) Lebanese Industry Minister Ghazi Zoayter praised Iran for its democratic election process, adding that such high voter turnout over the years gave evidence to the practice of democracy in Iran.
  • (E) Iranians living in China, South Korea, and Korea will take part in this year’s presidential election.
  • (E) In light of the presidential elections, the number of SMS text messages has reached 110 million a day from around 55 to 65 million.

Presidential Election: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

  • Alef News Agency releases an extra 19 minutes of Ahmadinejad defending himself on IRIB. 
    • (E) Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting denied that Ahmadinejad would receive an additional 45 minutes of airtimeto campaign before the election this Friday.
  • (E) Ahmadinejad proudly told his supporters that he defied the US warning of his arrest four times in order to “broadcast the message of the Iranian people” at a UN General Assembly in New York
  • Basij of the Hezbollah Front [Ed—not to be confused with either Lebanese Hezbollah or the Basij] spokesman says Ahmadinejad expressed words of the hypocrites [Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization] during the presidential debates.
  • 50 professors at theological seminaries condemn Ahmadinejad's accusations against the clergy at the televised presidential debates "contrary to Islamic law." 

Presidential Election: Mehdi Karrubi

  • (E) Karrubi adamantly denied reports that he would drop out of the presidential race in favor of Mir-Hossein Mousavi, calling them “worthless rumors and an ugly tactic.”

Presidential Election: Mir-Hossein Mousavi

  • (E) Mousavi wrote to the Supreme Leader, asking him to intervene to make sure that all government officials remain impartial during Friday’s election.
  • (E) Mousavi’s campaign criticized IRIB for illegally giving Ahmadinejad extra time on TV to defend himself and level more accusations against the other candidates.
  •  

June 9-10 News Roundup

  • Kayhan claims Ahmadinejad will get 65 percent of the votes.
  • According to ILNA, a recent poll shows that Mousavi will win the presidential election in the first round with 54 percent of the vote.
  • Video of the Ahmadinejad vs. Rezai debate.
  • Aftab-e Yazd discusses the placid Mousavi vs. Karrubi debate. 
    • Donya-ye Eqtesad discusses the economic dimensions of Mousavi and Karrubi's attacks against Ahmadinejad. 
    • According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting 35 million viewers watched the Mousavi vs. Karrubi televised debate. 
  • Judiciary Chief Shahroudi warns the candidates against making allegations against people at televised presidential debates.
  • Asr-e Iran reports clashes between Ahmadinejad and Mousavi supporters in Tehran. 
  • Mehdi Khazali, son of Ayatollah Khazali, in his latest interview with Voice of America, accuses Kayhan editor Hossein Shariatmadari and Ahmadinejad of killing the late Dr. Kazem Sami.
  • Abrar deplores the state of press freedom after receiving a letter from the Press and Information Deputy of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance ordering the press to publish the Point 74 of the Election Law. 
  • Asr-e Iran releases a poll which shows that Rezai and Mousavi lead.
  • Agah-Sazi publishes a letter allegedly written by "concerned" employees at the Interior Ministry who claim to know rigging techniques to be employed by the Ahmadinejad campaign to secure him a second term.
  • Islamic Republic authorities warn the media against breaking the election regulations.
  •  Ministry of Culture and Islamic Propagation declares prohibition against publication of negative materials about the candidates effective today. 
  • Alef News releases Google search engines registry of searches made from computers located in Iran during the past thirty days. 
  • Kayhan editor Shariatmadari presents Ahmadinejad's government as the like of Imam Ali's government and its critics as Sunni villains. 
  • The Mousavi campaign protest against the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting which has promised Ahmadinejad an extra 45 minutes to defend himself against allegations made against him in his absence at other presidential debates. 
  • Ahmadinejad and Mousavi supporters stare down each other in Tehran.
  • (E) All four presidential candidates will present their assets, as suggested by President Ahmadinejad during the Saturday debate with Mehdi Karrubi.
  • (E) Head of Iran's Electoral Office Kamran Danes stated that over 45 thousand ballot boxes nationwide are available for voting on June 12 and that the presidential vote will be announced within 24 hours of the election.
  • (E) More than 200,000 security officials have been dispatched in light of the Iranian election.
  • (E) Officials announced that reporters from 44 different countries, including Britain, France, Japan, and the US, have arrived in Iran to cover the presidential elections.
  • (E) Iranian Parliament representative Hojjatoleslam Morteza Aqa-Tehrani encouraged voters to contemplate the qualities of a good president, one who “would feel obliged to abide by Islam and the Islamic value system, obey the orders of the Prophet and the Supreme Source of Jurisprudence (Vali-e-Faqih), would not act wickedly and weakly in confrontation with hardships, and would in fact be a brave, capable human being with sound mental foundations.”
  • (E) With the elections quickly approaching, the streets of Tehran and other cities are full of excitement and anticipation with street debates.

 

June 7-8 News Roundup

 

June 5 News Roundup

  • Entekhab News reports an "un-dramatic presidential debate" between Mohsen Rezai and Mir-Hossein Mousavi.
  • Supreme Leader Khamenei, speaking on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Khomeini’s death, criticizes candidates who challenge the Ahmadinejad’s foreign policy: "Those who claim that the Iranian nation - because of its insistence upon its rights - has been humiliated in the world is absolutely not acceptable... The interventionist and bullying enemy of the Islamic Republic which has created a unified front against the nation tries through vast propaganda to claim the Iranian nation has been humiliated, but the truth is that respect towards the great Iranian nation and the blessed Imam [Khomeini] has even found its way into the heart of hearts of the regimes of the enemy." 
    • Khamenei also defended the legitimacy of presidential election in Iran: "The enemies of the nation sometimes call Iran's elections 'appointments' and sometimes they claim that rivalry of the candidates is controlled within the government and that the election will be forged. All such struggle only serves the purpose of dealing blows to religious democracy and opposition to strong popular presence in the election...The enemy is trying to spread apathy in people and bereave the regime of its strong backing which means popular votes and most unfortunately even inside the country there are some who out of ignorance repeat the very same words of the enemy and in practice contribute to realization of the goals of the enemy and one must truly be sorry for them...The foreigners are trying to take this pride and dignity from our nation, but anyone who is interested in strengthening of the regime, in Islam and in the Iranian nation, is religiously and rationally obliged to participate in elections."
    • Khamenei urged the followers of the candidates to beware of chaos and the enemy abusing their beliefs and ideals.
    • Khamenei also stressed that the four presidential candidates should avoid any enmity or hatred among them to come up to the surface: "It is not correct that one candidate in speeches in the presence of the people or through television speeches tries to negate the other candidate...I am not against debates or conversations or criticism but all should see to it that it is done within the frameworks of religion and religious law. The people are awake, they understand and they know...opposing viewpoints in different matters is only natural but the candidates and their supporters should act in such a way at rallies and assemblies that the affairs proceed with fraternity and love and with no problem."
    • Khamenei stressed: "I have only one vote and no one is aware of it and I will not tell anyone for whom to vote since this issue is the issue of the people and belongs to the nation."
  • Shahab News reports "tense demonstrations of tens of thousands of people in Qom" following the presidential debate between Mousavi and Ahmadinejad. 
  • Mosharekat [Participation] Front sends an open letter to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting protesting against Ahmadinejad's presidential debate behavior.
  • A'zam Taleqani daughter of the late Grand Ayatollah Taleqani says Ahmadinejad's behavior at the presidential debate has harmed the Islamic Republic. 
  • Mousavi's wife Zahra Rahnavard defends herself in the face of accusations raised against her academic degrees by Ahmadinejad at the presidential debate. 
  • Ahmadinejad and Mousavi supporters demonstrate at Khomeini's mausoleum.
  • Hassan Khomeini defends the governments of Iran after the revolution, refutes allegations of prevalence of embezzlement among them.
  • Mousavi and Karrubi supporters beaten up by Ahmadinejad supporters and the Student Basij armed with tear gas and sticks at Tehran branch of the Azad University.
  • Following the presidential debate between Ahmadinejad and Mousavi, Ahmadinejad supporters attack the Rafsanjani-led Expediency Council Strategic Studies Center's building in Nieveran and were dispersed by the Law Enforcement Forces at 05.30 in the morning.
  • Following Ahmadinejad's accusations against "wealth gathered by theft" of the Rafsanjani clan Rafsanjani in a letter to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting demands opportunity to defend himself and his family on television.
  • Safayi Farahani, one of the individuals mentioned by Ahmadinejad as an example of economically corrupt people, demands television time against Ahmadinejad so he can defend himself. 
  • (E) Mousavi and Rezai discussed the economy in Thursday’s presidential debate.
  • (E) Fars News Agency asserts that the presidential debate between Ahmadinejad and Mousavi on Wednesday profoundly increased support for each candidate.
  • (E) Five polling stations have been set up in Germany for Iranian expatriates to vote.
  • (E) Pakistani official lauded Iran for its democratic presidential elections.
  • (E) Iranian officials accused of corruption by Ahmadinejad will be given airtime to defend themselves after the elections on June 12.

 

June 4 News Roundup

 

June 3 News Roundup

 

June 3 News Roundup

June 2 News Roundup

  • According to Fars News Agency polls: 53 percent support Ahmadinejad, 36 percent support Mousavi, 3 percent support Karrubi and 2 percent support Rezai. 
  • Rezai and Karrubi's presidential debate to be televised on June 2, 10:30 p.m. Iran time.
  • Ansar News Agency claims to "disclose" information on activity of the Rafsanjani clan against Ahmadinejad in presidential election. 
  • Revolutionary Guards propagandist Hassan Abbasi accuses Khatami-era parliamentarians of being foreign spies, attacks Rafsanjani of having forced Khomeini to "drink from the chalice of poison" by accepting the ceasefire ending the Iran/Iraq war and claims the reformists in letters told Khomeini that Iran was not in need of nuclear energy.
    • Abbasi also insinuates that the green color of the Mousavi campaign signifies his connection with Germany's Green Party and has nothing to do with Islam. 

 

May 29-June 1 News Roundup

  • Police forbid Radio Javan's program Mantagheh-ye Azad [Free Zone] to conduct interviews with university students.
  • Interior Ministry Deputy and former Revolutionary Guards commander Ali-Reza Afshar condemns "unprecedented character assassination against the government and its achievements."
  • Abbas Abdi points out the weaknesses of the polls, points at importance of preparing the public opinion rather than paying attention to the polls.
  • (E) Supreme Leader Khamenei called for national unity in preparation for the upcoming presidential elections, condemning the violence sparked by the Zahedan mosque bombing last week.
  • (E) Artist Saeid Moayyerizadeh chronicles the presidential elections in a series of collages, utilizing campaign posters and other materials.
  • (E) Director of IRIB Channel 4, Reza Pourhossein, will conduct unprecedented televised presidential election debates on Tuesday.

 

May 28 News Roundup

  • Sobh-e Sadegh condemns former President Mohammad Khatami's joke about Azeris, which has been filmed and is widely distributed on the internet.
    • (E) Mir-Hossein Mousavi calls allegations that his supporter, former President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, insulted Azeri Iranians part of a larger “smear campaign designed to manipulate public opinion against him.”
  • Mir-Hossein Mousavi attacked with slogans such as "Death to the Opponent of the Guardian Jurist" while Ahmadinejad is greeted with "Praise be the household of Muhammad, the scent of [martyred President Mohammad-Ali] Rajai has come" when the two presidential candidates arrived at the private home of Supreme Leader Khamenei to participate in Shi'a days of sorrow.
  • Ahmadineajd advisor Mohammad-Ali Ramin says Rafsanjani is the key figure behind Mousavi, Karrubi and Rezai.
  • Famous praise singer Haddadian singing at the passion ceremony of the Revolutionary Guards in Western Tehran begins his song with a lengthy attack against Mousavi and Rezai and defends Ahmadinejad. According to Shahab News Haddadian accused the former Revolutionary Guards Chief to "have forced the Imam [Khomeini] to drink from the chalice of poison [by ending the Iran/Iraq war]" and Mousavi for "painting rather than caring for the needy and poor." Haddadian ends his speech by saying: "Our vote is Ahmadinejad."
  • (E) The use of colors for campaigning has taken center stage in this year’s election as some criticize the political exploitation of religious symbolism.

 

May 27 News Roundup

  • Ali-Akbar Mohtashami-Pour, head of the Committee for Defense of the Vote, writes to the Election Propagation Commission to protest against the Ahmadinejad government's campaign use of the newspapers Iran, Jam-e Jam and Kayhan which are publicly-owned.
  • Election Headquarters Chief Kamran Daneshjou provides statistical information about the ballots.
  • Election Headquarters prohibits placards and banners anywhere but in the election headquarters of the candidates.

 

May 23-26 News Roundup

  • Khamenei speaking to family members of martyrs from Iran-Iraq war on anniversary of liberation of Khorramshahr urges presidential candidates to be wary: "Enemies of Iran and the Iranians dislike pride of Islam and Islamic values. Therefore all the authorities and presidential candidates should be wary of uttering words to the pleasure of the enemy."
  • Khatami's Culture and Islamic Propagation Minister Ataollah Mohajeran, speaking from London exile, wants "anybody but Ahmadinejad" to win.
  • As the Iranian parliament convenes, parliamentarians use green and red arm bands to signify their support to the candidate of their preference. Mousavi supporters wear green, the color of the prophet, and Ahmadinejad supporters use red, "the color of martyrdom."
    • Motalefeh faction condemns the Mousavi campaign's use of green arm bands, says it divides rather than unites the Iranians in the face of the enemy, adds the color signifies a "green light to the enemy." 
  • (E) Former Iranian President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami encouraged a high voter turnout in the upcoming presidential election, stating that “it outweighs the result.”
  • (E) Similarly, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani called on Iranians to participate in the presidential election in order to “disappoint the enemies.”
  • Election Headquarters Chief Kamran Daneshjou attacks candidates who demand a committee in defense of the vote for questioning servile attitude of the election headquarters. 
    • Interior Minister Sadegh Mahsouli says organized fraud is not possible in the presidential election. 
  • Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, speaking at Tehran’s Friday prayers, says painting a black picture of state of affairs in elections harms the picture that the people have of the revolution.  Motalefeh agrees.
  • Rafsanjani, speaking at Tehran’s Friday prayers, urges the public to participate in elections, stresses that every vote is important: 
    • "There are those who think that since a religious jurist with all the necessary qualifications is at the helm of affairs, an Islamic government has been formed. But even the Jurist has been appointed according to the Constitution and through popular will. What can the Jurist do without popular presence?
    • The morning after the elections, when we declare that more than 70 or 80 percent participated in elections, our regime will become more legitimate in the world and our enemies who out of envy are trying to create a gap between the people and the authorities will in practice and most certainly see that ashes of apathy is thrown on their heads..."
    • The Voice and Vision is a national media whose legitimacy is derived from popular satisfaction. From now on it should see to it that it acts in a just and non partisan way without supporting anyone and by abiding by the law so that the people go to the ballots confidently and a new sense of trust is created in society..."
  • Reformist Camp Coordination Council in a statement condemns what they call unequal campaigning opportunities of different candidates. 
  • (E) The Iranian government has unblocked Facebook, which young people had used to discuss their political views and presidential preferences.
  • (E) The Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Mines (ICCIM) asked the presidential candidates to answer 25 questions regarding their economic visions for the country.
  • (E) According to Ayandeh, Mir-Hossein Mousavi is leading the polls in 10 major cities, ahead of incumbent President Ahmadinejad by 4 percent.
  • Tehran Police Chief arrests drivers exhibiting Mousavi's placards, prohibits use of placards on cars.
  • Tehran Police Chief refutes the story.
  • Former Vice President Mohammad-Ali Abtahi surveys various websites of the candidates
  • Ali-Akbar Nateq Nouri, Head of the Supreme Leader's Inspectorate Office, says due to his position he should not comment on his personal views with regard to the candidates, says Iran is in need of several strong political parties and stresses that a good president is a president who abides by the law and cooperates with other state institutions.

 

May 22 News Roundup

  • Speaker of the Parliament Ali Larijani refuses to disclose which candidate he supports. Parliamanterian.
  • Zohreh Elahian in an open letter to Speaker of the Parliament Ali Larijani demands a definition of the expression "rajol-e siasi" [Political men/political grandees] being among whom is a precondition for running for president in the Islamic Republic of Iran and demands to know if women are allowed to run for president?
  • (E) Ahmadinejad and Mousavi will hold televised debates on June 3 as one of six 90-minute debates for the presidential candidates.        
  • (E) Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani remarked that a high election turnout will strengthen the Iranian government and advised Iranian citizens to elect a well-qualified candidate.
  • (E) The Interior Ministry has allocated each presidential candidate 17 hours of television and radio time for campaign purposes.

May 21 News Roundup  

 

May 20 News Roundup  

 

May 19 News Roundup

 

May 17-18 News Roundup  

  • Supreme Leader Khamenei, speaking in Bijar at the seventh day of his visit to Kordestan, urges to vote for "someone who continues the path of the Imam [Khomeini], his values and principles and who considers resistance towards the bullying powers of the world a value." 
  • Alef News Agency's poll of 15,000 voters shows 54.5 percent support Ahmadinejad, 22 percent support for Mir-Hossein Mousavi, 3.2 percent support for Mehdi Karrubi and 2 percent support for Mohsen Rezai. 
  • A poll published by Entekhab News claims Mir-Hossein Mousavi comes first with 27.8 percent, Mohsen Rezai with 25.5 percent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with 23.9 percent and Mehdi Karrubi with 22.8 percent of the vote. 
    • Guardian Council Spokesman Abbas-Ali Kadkhodayi says there are 476 presidential aspirants, 120 of whom have various criminal records, 50 of whom have been disqualified before and 50 who have an educational degree from elementary school to diploma.
    • Guardian Council Spokesman Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaei says the council does not engage in "expedient decision making" when it comes to evaluation of presidential aspirants.
    • Kadkhodaei stresses that campaign activities prior to the Council's announcement of qualified candidates is illegal, unless it is general propagation of election participation with no reference to a certain candidate.
    • Kadkhodaei also says there is no restriction with regard to women applying for the presidency. 
    • Former parliamentarian Akbar A'lami's campaign headquarters say "there are some signs of Mr. A'lami being disqualified by the Guardian Council."
  • Agah-Sazi News reports systematic leaks from secret meetings of the presidential candidates' headquarters to the press and accuses "rogue elements in a certain security organization of a certain institution."
    • Agah-Sazi stresses that "it is most possible that the President is ignorant and unhappy with such rogue actions, but lack of institutionalization of tapping in the country will create an atmosphere of fear..."
  • Former National Bank Director General Tahmasb Mazaheri questions authenticity of the Ahmadinejad campaign's claim that its decision to dissolve the Plan and Budget Organization was derived from the will of former President Mohammad-Ali Rajai and explains that Rajai only closed down the organization for ten days after which it was reopened because of lack of alternative economic macro planning institutions in Iran. 
  • Ham-Mihan speculates about possible cabinets depending on the victor in elections. 
  • Ayatollah Nouri Hamadani says not participating in elections is "a great sin." 

 

May 15 News Roundup  

 

May 14 News Roundup  

 

May 13 News Roundup