Iran’s Supreme Leader is playing down the “recent affairs regarding the ministry of intelligence” and condemning attempts by foreign media to paint a picture of a divided Islamic Republic establishment.
In a report on his official website, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Look at the foreign media propaganda about this matter and how they have created a controversy and claim that the Islamic Republic is divided and the president is not obeying the leader.”
Khamenei emphasized that “the cabinet and the president are truly and fairly serving the country" and added: “The people and the leadership as always support the path of work and service and those who follow the main path of toil and serving the country.”
The Supreme Leader said that the constitution has clarified the roles and responsibilities of all and added that he does not wish to interfere in the “decisions and affairs of the government." However, he maintained he will do so when he feels “best interests are being overlooked.”
He then urged the members of the Islamic Republic establishment to refrain from “bickering” and giving foreign media the opportunity to take advantage of their actions.
“The Islamic Republic regime is a powerful system, and the leadership is well set in its correct stance,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. “As long as I am alive and charged with this responsibility, I will not allow the slightest deviation in the great movement of the people of Iran toward its ideals.”
Last week, after the media reported that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accepted the resignation of head of Iran’s ministry of intelligence Heydar Moslehi, Ayatollah Khamenei overruled Ahamdinejad’s decision and reinstated the minister.
The minister of intelligence is one of the government posts that can only be filled with the approval of the Supreme Leader.
The media have been speculating on disputes between Moslehi and the president, and some analysts have described the affair as a sign of deep divisions in the Islamic Republic establishment.
Conservative MP Ahamad Tavakoli has written in his website: “Ahmadinejad should have acquired the approval of the leader prior to these actions but he failed to do so.”
Tavakoli wrote yesterday on his website that Ahmadinejad is still persisting in his lack of cooperation with Moslehi. The report added that Ahamdinejad has not invited Moslehi to join cabinet meetings and excluded him from the recent cabinet visit to Kurdistan province.
