The Fight Over Tehran Metro: Ahmadinejad vs. Hashemi
Following the surfacing of Mohsen Hashemi's speech, in which he strongly
criticizes Ahmadinejad for his accusations against Hashemi's family during his
election debates, Ahmadinejad is attempting to take the
control of the subway system from Tehran's City Hall. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
announced that not only his administration will take over Tehran's subway
system; it will also appoint its president.
Ahmadinejad speaks of taking over the control of the subway system while in
the recent weeks arguments over who should be its president have risen. For
instance some of the government supporting members of the parliament including
Hadad-Adel, Amin Shabani (hardliners) objected to the subway system being under
the control of Mohsen Hashemi (son of Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, the head of
Expediency Council and the Assembly of Experts).
The arguments over the subway system heightened again when the footage of
Mohsen Hashemi's speech, in which he strongly criticizes Ahmadinejad for his
accusations against Hashemi's family during his election debates, surfaced.
Mohammad Royanian, advisor to Ahmadinejad and head of the office of
transportation and fuel, took a similar stand earlier, demanded that
Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the Mayor of Tehran, fire Mohsen Hashemi.
On the other hand, Mohammad Hashemi and Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf have accused
the government of not providing sufficient budget for purchasing spare parts and
expanding the subway system.
