Iran Gov't Threatens To Resign
Iran's reformist government has threatened to resign, and other reformers accused hard-liners Tuesday of treason for disqualifying candidates in next month's parliamentary elections.
In a deepening of the nation's political crisis, the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Vice President Mohammad Sattarifar as saying, "If the government feels that it can't fulfill its responsibilities in protecting legitimate freedoms, such as defending the rights of the nation for a free and fair elections, then it does not believe that there is any reason to stay in power."
That statement late Monday is the strongest yet indicating President Mohammad Khatami's government may be willing to resign if it cannot ensure fair elections Feb. 20. However, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has pledged to intervene if the crisis is not resolved soon.
The Guardian Council, an unelected hard-line constitutional watchdog, has barred more than 3,000 of the 8,200 people — including more than 80 sitting lawmakers — who filed papers to run for a seat in the 290-member parliament. Lawmakers have said all of those disqualified were reformists.
State broadcast media controlled by hard-liners have said the candidates were disqualified because they lacked "the necessary legal qualifications."
Iran's largest reformist party, the Islamic Iran Participation Front, meanwhile, said in a statement made available Tuesday to The Associated Press that disqualifying the reform candidates amounted to treason because it damages Iran's international credibility and will result in "sham elections."
"We consider the disqualifications national treason and an attempt to transform the Islamic Republic into a despotic establishment," the party said. "Disqualifications deny the people their constitutional right to choose and be chosen. … Hard-liners seek to set up a sham parliament through sham elections."
The United States urged the Iranian government to oppose any interference in the electoral process.
"We would note that a government's handling of the electoral process is one of the fundamental measurements of its credibility," State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said Monday.
The European Union's foreign policy chief also said the elections would not be credible unless the disqualifications are reversed. It would be "difficult to explain (to the European parliament) how a lawmaker can't be a candidate," Javier Solana said while visiting Tehran to discuss Iran's relations with Europe.
Reformists have threatened to boycott the elections if the disqualifications are not reversed. Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters, said Monday he would intervene only after all legal channels are exhausted.
Many legislators, including those disqualified, have staged a sit-in inside the parliament building since Sunday, when the Guardian Council's action was announced. Khatami has vowed to contest the disqualifications, saying there would be a "harsh reaction" if legal means failed to overturn them.
If they stand, the disqualifications would be another blow to reformists, whose popularity has waned because of their perceived failure to deliver on promises of liberalization. Hard-liners long have used their control of unelected bodies such as the judiciary and the Guardian Council to stymie reform efforts.
Khatami and his allies seek to liberalize Iran from strict political and social controls. Hard-liners regard such changes as undermining the principles of the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The fight between the two sides has gotten nasty before. Reformers have staged large demonstrations, which have sometimes ended in violent clashes with the police. Hard-liners have shut reformist newspapers and prosecuted human rights lawyers.
The disqualified legislators include Mohammad Reza Khatami, the younger brother of the president and leader of the Islamic Iran Participation Front, and Behzad Nabavi — both deputy speakers of parliament. Others are Elaheh Koulaee and Fatemeh Haqiqatjou, prominent defenders of women's rights.