ISTANBUL —Iran’s moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, has delivered rare rebukes in recent days to the country’s powerful Shiite clergy and allied security forces, lashing out at rivals and their hard-line backers ahead of his reelection bid next week.
At rallies across Iran, Rouhani has blasted his opponents as “extremists” and criticized authorities for the detention of reformist leaders. On Monday, he attacked rival Ebrahim Raisi, a conservative cleric and former judicial official, for a record of “execution and imprisonment.”
Rouhani also questioned the tax-exempt status of a charitable foundation linked to Iran’s supreme leader and suggested in a televised debate Friday that Iran’s most influential security institution, the Revolutionary Guard Corps, tried to sabotage the 2015 nuclear deal he struck with world powers.
The comments came as the three-week-long presidential campaign entered its final stretch, with voting scheduled for May 19.
The remarks “are certainly a bold move that indicate a decision to forgo the calm tone of his campaign,” said Reza H. Akbari, program manager at the Institute for War and Peace Reporting in Washington, where he researches Iranian politics.
ISTANBUL —Iran’s moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, has delivered rare rebukes in recent days to the country’s powerful Shiite clergy and allied security forces, lashing out at rivals and their hard-line backers ahead of his reelection bid next week.
At rallies across Iran, Rouhani has blasted his opponents as “extremists” and criticized authorities for the detention of reformist leaders. On Monday, he attacked rival Ebrahim Raisi, a conservative cleric and former judicial official, for a record of “execution and imprisonment.”
Rouhani also questioned the tax-exempt status of a charitable foundation linked to Iran’s supreme leader and suggested in a televised debate Friday that Iran’s most influential security institution, the Revolutionary Guard Corps, tried to sabotage the 2015 nuclear deal he struck with world powers.
The comments came as the three-week-long presidential campaign entered its final stretch, with voting scheduled for May 19.
The remarks “are certainly a bold move that indicate a decision to forgo the calm tone of his campaign,” said Reza H. Akbari, program manager at the Institute for War and Peace Reporting in Washington, where he researches Iranian politics.
Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world.
PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States
Scrubba Wash Bag
Our ultra-portable washing machine makes your journey easier. This convenient, pocket-sized travel companion allows you to travel lighter while helping you save money, time and water.
Our roots in shooting sports started off back in 1996 with our founder and CEO, Josh Ungier. His love of airguns took hold of our company from day one and we became the first e-commerce retailer dedicated to airguns, optics, ammo, and accessories. Over the next 25 years, customers turned to us for our unmatched product selection, great advice, education, and continued support of the sport and airgun industry.
COMMENTS
There are on this article.
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.