Mohammad Khatami
Photo: Reuters
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Photo: Reuters
Will Khatami challenge Ahmadinejad's presidency?
Former Iranian president, considered a moderate, says he will run for office under two conditions: People's consensus, expansion of presidential powers
Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, considered the leader of the Iranian reform movement, told Iranian press on Sunday that "if two conditions are met, I will be willing to participate in the next presidential elections."
Iranian newspaper Kargozaaran reported that Khatami made it clear that "I am not particularly frightened of the election results. It's often been said that I would run only if I win. I did run twice for office, and based on the affection I'm receiving from the public, I have no fear in that sense. However, I have no intention of running for office at any cost."
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Khatami, who served as president from 1997 until 2005, said that the two conditions he set for his running for office in the June 2009 elections are "an agreement with the people on its wishes, and the ability to carry out plans."
"The first condition is that I could reach an understanding with the people regarding its wishes. In my opinion the historic wants of the people are freedom, progress and justice. If I could reach a clear understanding with the people about that, this desire will be the first condition in presenting my nomination to the people," said Khatami.
As for the second condition, Khatami explained that "in the current state, how much can the president implement? If there won't be a true opportunity to implement plans and obstacles will be placed, even the best public presentation is nothing more than public deception."
It should be mentioned that during his second term in office, Khatami tried to expand presidential powers in order to fulfill promises made to the public, but halted his attempts due to the political uproar.
Israel seen as terrorist regime
While meeting with representatives of Iran's news agency, Khatami referred to the attempts made to derail his government, saying "if the conditions will be similar, than most of the plans will not be carried out."Khatami is interested in promoting more rights and freedoms in Iranian society, and is viewed by the international community as a pragmatic-moderate. Nevertheless, he shares the same views held by the more conservative movement in regards to Israel.
During Khatami's presidency, many declarations were made questioning Israel's right to exist and calling to punish the "terrorist regime."
Khatami has recently been under pressure from other members of the reform movement to place his name on the ballot for president. It seems, however, that Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei still stands behind Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and without his support, a return to office for Khatami seems unlikely.
