Insider Opinion : Rafsanjani is finally clearly speaking for the people.
An insider’s interpretation of the Mashhad speeches on December 6 / Azar 15.
Rafsanjani : “If they want us (IRI/Clergy) to Govern them, we will. If not, we will step aside.”
In 4 separate speeches to students in Mashhad, Rafsanjani issued his strongest & most direct criticism of IRGC & leadership yet. Iranians are a faithful & Muslim people. If they want us (IRI/Clergy) to Govern them, we will. If not, we will step aside. IRGC & Basij shouldn’t have been ordered against people. He explicitly confirmed existence of Political Prisoners, IRGC’s rogue&illegal;involvement, condemned & confirmed grave violations of citizen rights & violent oppression of legal protests, explicity announced protesters’ right to protest, implicitly questioned election results, called such objections of results a “legitimate concern”,accused certain principlists & “unripe missionaries” (of Mesbahieh/Hojjatieh) of not caring about people’s vote (election fraud) and passing their words as SL’s, implying that SL is being influenced by bad company.
Rafsanjani finally tells Iranians that if they want IRI to be replaced,it is their right & regime has to accept & honor people’s wish by stepping aside. In an earlier speech this morning, he put the ball squarely in SL’s court after blaming all violence & violations on IRGC & Mesbahieh, while not really clearing SL of fault, or defending him as usual. Rafsanjani held one long message to Iranian people, confirming their rights & legitimizing their demands, declaring public protests their right, declaring IRGC & Government rogue, telling body of IRGC & Basij that what they are being used for is not legal or legitimate. He sent a clear message addressed to IRGC cmdrs that he is blaming them for atrocities & crimes in defiance of SL’s orders & constitution.
His message to Khamenei was very loud & clear: YOU got us in to this mess, YOU get us out of it NOW or we are all history. This is not just anyone talking. He is the 2nd highest ranking official of IRI, the Chairman of Experts. As expediency chairman, he has been investigating all post-election events. He is per constitution the highest authority on solving constitutional impasses, he has the highest constitutional jurisprudence. What he said today is his official verdict, his steadfast insistence on constitutional law, even if it ends IRI.
As usual, a lot of trust in Rafsanjani on the Insider’s part, but this time Rafsanjani did speak very clearly.
