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The intensifying power struggle and a series of mutual attacks among various officials of the Iranian regime have become a major concern in Tehran as the orchestrated elections approach. Tasnim News Agency reported on a meeting between the heads of the three branches of government and the Intelligence Minister to control the situation and prevent mutual disclosures and damage by presidential candidates. During this meeting, Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib presented a report on what he called “unethical behavior,” stating, “The behavior of the candidates is continuously monitored, and those adopting destructive approaches will be warned.”
The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance’s Press Supervisory Board also announced that the publication of “any content encouraging people to boycott or reduce participation in the elections, unauthorized protest gatherings, strikes, and sit-ins would be considered criminal.”
The Judiciary has also warned against exposing the regime’s repressive policies, corruption, and plundering by state officials during the election competition.
The attacks have become so widespread that they are now being discussed on state television. Asghar Jahangir, Deputy for Social Affairs and Crime Prevention of the Judiciary, stated, “If candidates’ supporters engage in slander, insults, or defamation against other candidates, they will be promptly summoned. Those who unjustly and illegally attack others will be prosecuted according to the law.”
Internal Crisis and Power Struggles Intensify Ahead of #Iran’s Presidential Sham Electionhttps://t.co/fwAnLZWSGC
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 5, 2024
According to the latest regulations announced for the presidential candidates’ advertisements on state radio and television, “disturbing public opinion and painting a dark picture of the country’s situation” and “expressing any matter that causes despair, hopelessness, and a decrease in public participation in elections” is prohibited.
Meanwhile, Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of Kayhan newspaper, linked the approval of a resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors against the regime to the staged elections in Iran. On June 5, he wrote in his newspaper, whose editorial guidelines are directed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office, “They [the Western powers] want to impact the ballot box of candidates who support negotiations through this resolution. To counter this ploy, the government must expel all agency inspectors from Iran.”
While the head of state radio and television announced plans for debates among more than 10 candidates, Saeed Shariati, a state-affiliated expert and a self-proclaimed “reformist,” said, “Only those who will continue the current government’s policies will be approved. There will be no fundamental change, and the situation will not resemble the 2013 presidential election.”
Confirming the latter, a member of parliament and a presidential candidate said the next president must be 100 percent in line with Khamenei.
Amid Dual Election Turmoil, Clash of Clans Escalate Within #Iran’s Regimehttps://t.co/nq8c6ZNMvA
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 30, 2024
Majid Zolnour stated, “The president must have a revolutionary and value-oriented spirit so that the leader can rest assured and not be in conflict with those steering the country. The Supreme Leader cannot act contrary to his knowledge and religious principles for the whims or satisfaction of the president.”
Abdollah Haji Sadeghi, Khamenei’s representative in the IRGC, also said, “Dear ones, on July 8, you will choose a president. For God’s sake, do not forget that (Ebrahim) Raisi’s words were to choose a soldier for the leadership, not a burden, nor someone who defies the leader’s words. We have not forgotten these things.”
Furthermore, some marginalized officials have outright condemned the staged elections. Former Tehran Mayor Gholamhossein Karbaschi wrote, “The entire electoral system is flawed and has become a farce. Elections are not a joke; we have turned them into a registration game followed by qualification approvals.”
Abbas Abdi, a former intelligence interrogator turned journalist, wrote in a state-affiliated newspaper, “If we put 80 presidential candidates in one frame, they do not represent more than 30 or 35 percent of the people.”
Hossein Allahkaram, a former commander of state-aligned thugs who used to quell protests in the 1980s, slammed a former president, saying, “The approval of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad due to his radical slogans could challenge his competitors.”
Khamenei’s Blueprint for #Iranian Regime’s Next Governmenthttps://t.co/o1Z49BMhR7
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 23, 2024
Rahmatollah Bigdeli, a former official now identifying as a “reformist activist,” went even further in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Ahmadinejad should be tried and punished for treason. He came to power with backing from certain power and wealth circles, claiming support from the Hidden Imam. He squandered Iran’s legendary $800 billion revenue with foolish slogans and a corrupt, incompetent government, paving the way for UN sanctions against Iran!”
Abdolreza Davari, a former advisor to Ahmadinejad, also attacked influential parliament member Hamid Rasaee and accused him of hypocrisy and disloyalty. On June 6, he wrote on his X account, “Hamid Rasaee’s omission of the title ‘Ayatollah’ or ‘Mr.’ for Ayatollah Khamenei in his tweet comes at a time when even in BBC Persian’s editorial protocols, the title ‘Ayatollah’ is used for the Leader of the Revolution. Today is the day when all secrets will be revealed…”
Meanwhile, former MP Gholam-Ali Jafarzadeh Imenabadi also attacked Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, posting on June 4, “In the election of the parliamentary presidium, I told the independents that voting for Ghalibaf is treason to the system. They said Ghalibaf has promised not to run for president. I said Ghalibaf adheres to no principles and is power-hungry.”
He added, “Following Ghalibaf’s registration, they admitted their mistake.”
Former president Mohammad Khatami, known for his deceptive use of reformist rhetoric to cloak the regime’s nuclear pursuits, terrorism, and domestic repression, has resurfaced on the election stage. In a bid to curry favor with Khamenei and make amends for abstaining from the March parliamentary elections, he declared, “Should the Reform Front’s proposal materialize, I’ll engage in the elections. Given the circumstances, participation may be deemed justifiable, despite less-than-ideal electoral conditions.”
