Ali Motahari told the Ghanon Online website that regime security officials warned council members that approving Hashemi Rafsanjani’s candidacy would present ‘security problems’.
He said: “Regardless of Mr Hashemi’s case, the Guardian Council confirmed the qualification of Mr Jalili who has minimum experience for the presidency.
“Can someone who has merely been a director general in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Secretary of National Security Council for a few years and has done a few nuclear negotiations become president?”
And speaking of Hassan Firozabadi’s support from the Guardian Council, Motahari added: “Essentially, a military person should not enter politics. This was Khomeini’s recommendation but unfortunately in recent years it has been violated. People like Mr Alam al-Hoda have been so irrational in the past that no one believes them now.
“As a solution, I propose a change in the composition of the Guardian Council. It would be sufficient if two wise and enlightened religious scholars replace two of the current scholars.”
And addressing Jalili, he said: “You know better than anyone else that you don’t have sufficient experience and the necessary qualifications for the presidency and some people have pushed you towards this stage to achieve their own goals. I suggest you withdraw so that you are not manipulated by others. God willing, you can become a candidate in future elections.
“The disqualification of Mr Hashemi was a very graceless, cruel and cowardly act. We still have objections and can not simply put it aside because otherwise an atmosphere of repression will take over the country. I however believe this is somewhat due to the past behavior of Mr Hashemi.
“If in the past he did not remain silent in the face of the behavior and defended the oppressed, this would not have happened to him today.”