Iran News Round Up - May 25, 2017

Fatimiyoun member Abdol Azim Sakhizada will be buried in Bostan-e Shohada cemetery in Tehran on May 25. The date of his death is unclear. (Tasnim News Agency)

IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami discussed President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia in remarks on May 24. He stated, “50 world leaders gathered in Saudi Arabia and their only word was that Iran enjoys an uncontrollable power, and it is an honor for us (Iran).” (Fars News Agency) (E)

 Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani criticized President Donald Trump’s most recent arms deal with Saudi Arabia. Shamkhani said while Middle Eastern countries desperately need to reduce the scale of violence in the region, Saudi Arabia and other states are turning “the region into a Western-made weapons’ cache.” (Fars News Agency) (E)

 President Hassan Rouhani reacted to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s call for Iran to end its ballistic missile program during a cabinet meeting on May 24. He stated, “The remarks by the enemies of the Iranian nation against Iran’s missile power are out of ignorance… we need missiles and the enemy should know that we make everything we need and we don’t pay an iota of attention to your words.” (Fars News Agency) (E)

President Hassan Rouhani claimed that “four million people were unable to cast their votes” in the May 19 presidential elections during remarks at a meeting with his campaign officials on May 24. Rouhani claimed that if 27-28 million people had voted for him - instead of approximately 23.5 million - “there wouldn’t have been a problem.” Rouhani also implicitly accused the Guardian Council of failing to cooperate with efforts to extend voting hours. (BBC Persian) (Fars News Agency)

Assembly of Experts Chairman Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati stated, “I am certifying the healthiness of the elections, which were very good. However, many violations were found.” Jannati claimed that officials charged with monitoring the elections committed some of the violations. He nevertheless expressed gratitude for the people’s participation in the elections and their commitment to the Islamic Revolution. (Fars News Agency)

 Guardian Council Spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei stated that the Guardian Council reviewed reports of elections violations during a meeting on May 23. When asked whether the reports could potentially impact the electoral process, Kadkhodaei stated, “I cannot say anything about it, because both candidates have sent numerous reports of violations. The preponderance of reporting requires” further investigation. (Tasnim News Agency)

Assembly of Experts member Ayatollah Mousavi Esfahani stressed the importance of reviewing the elections violations during remarks at a meeting with officials from conservative candidate Ebrahim Raisi’s campaign. He also stated, “In some countries, when a president carries out violations, he is dismissed in the middle of his power, because the power of the people is very high.” He also stated, “Parliament should be asked why they do not monitor the performance of the president and his ministers.” Mousavi Esfahani also criticized Rouhani’s decision to thank reformist former President Mohammad Khatami publicly, as Khatami is under a Judiciary-mandated media ban due to his support for the 2009 Green Movement.

• Mousavi Esfahani also stated, “Someone should ask Mr. President [Hassan Rouhani] - “Why do you accept velayat-e faqih [guardianship of the jurist], the blood of the martyrs [soldiers killed in war]... but in practice you do not accept the Judiciary?”” (Tasnim News Agency)