The head of the Keyhan Daily published a note in today’s Tehran edition, saying the new president-elect is being pushed by anti-regime forces as he selects his cabinet members.
Hossein Shariatmadari, who was directly appointed to head the Keyhan daily by Iran’s Supreme Leader, claims that Rohani is being swayed by reformists who were involved in the so-called “sedition” of 2009.
Iran’s Supreme Leader and other hardliners refer to the election protests of 2009 as sedition, and the reformist candidates who challenged the outcome of that election remain under house arrest.
Reformists who backed Hassan Rohani in his election campaign have repeatedly called for the release of the opposition leaders under house arrest as well as other political prisoners.
While Rohani has promised to steer away from the extremism of recent years, many have expressed doubts about his ability to bring about the changes he has proposed.
The Supreme Leader has already rejected four of his choices for cabinet, raising further doubts about whether the new president will have the room to maneuver he needs to make real changes.
