Kamangir (Archer)

The Commander

Kamangir | March 9, 2007 | Category Iran

I guess the existence of many, somewhat contradicting, persons and lobbies is commonplace in every political system. You can also interpret that as a sign of a true democracy. The Islamic Republic, however, manifests this event in gigantic proportions. That’s probably one of the reasons you hear completely contradicting statements made by Ahmadinejad and Larijani, both of whom seem to be well supported by the Supreme Leader.

Here is another example. Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Chief Commander Hojjatoleslam [a grade below Ayatollah] Zolnour [I am not sure if this is the accurate translation of his military position] is quoted by a pro-Ahmadinejad website mentioning these words in a public speech,

In the developments of Iraq, and regarding who should be the Prime Minister, the circumstances were especially difficult. Ibrahim al-Jaafari would not step down and even the efforts of the great Shia leader, Ayatollah Sistani, were not making any progress. So, Iran sent a representative who told him, on behalf of the Supreme Leader, that the best decision was for him to step down. Jaafari held a cup of tea in his hands at that moment. He said “obeying him is much simpler than drinking this tea”.

Either he is bluffing, in which case it’s a shame for the IR that a commander lies so openly, or he is telling secret stories, which obviously he should not be talking about in public.