"Enemies trying to create social crisis in Iran": Intelligence Minister

07/15/12

Iranian Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi said on Sunday that the Western intelligence agencies that participated in the sedition of 2009 have carefully reviewed the factors behind their failure and are planning to create another type of instability, like a social crisis, in Iran.

Iranian Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi

He said that the enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran are conducting a propaganda campaign against the country in order to give the impression that Iran's system is ineffective and inefficient.

He went on to say that the enemies who have a problem with the system of velayat-e faqih (rule by the supreme jurisprudent) in Iran want to convince Iranian citizens that the country's system is inefficient because it is the velayat-e faqih system.

One of the enemies' objectives is to foment discontent among the Iranian people, he said, adding that the enemies are now training some youths to spark street clashes in the country.

"The enemies intend to sow discord between the Iranian nation and government... however, we should comprehensively counter their plots," he stated.

Commenting on the Islamic Awakening wave rolling across the region, Moslehi said that the enemies do not want Iran to be a role model for regional countries, and hence they have invented "the phenomenon of Iranophobia."

Presidential election an opportunity to counter threats: Rafsanjani

Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Sunday that the presidential election next year will provide an opportunity to counter threats against the country if efforts are made to promote national unity.

cartoon by Mana Neyestani (facebook fan page)

He said, "Legal, transparent, and free conduct of all stages of the presidential election" will boost hopes and confidence in the Islamic Revolution and the Constitution, and will help foil the plots of the enemies of the Islamic system.

Iran in soft war with enemy: Police Official

A police official in charge of social affairs said on Sunday that Iran "is in the soft war" with the enemy. Brigadier General Bahman Kargar said, "In the soft war enemies are trying to penetrate into the minds of our people and change their beliefs."

"Our country is in a soft war and this war is far more difficult than a hard war, and we must... produce soft power in the country," the general told an expert seminar of Law Enforcement Forces.

In the soft war, the enemy has relied on propaganda, sanctions, and military threat against Iran, he said, adding through "soft war the global arrogance (forces of imperialism) tries to hurt our country and change our Islamic-Iranian taste in order to leave destructive impact on our youth and drive our Islamic culture toward the Western culture."

He added in the soft war the enemy has targeted the public opinion to achieve its vicious goals. "Media is the most important tool for the enemy in this war, but the Islamic Republic of Iran wins over the enemy victoriously."

The enemies have launched more than 70 Farsi networks with enormous costs to undermine the people's beliefs "but Iranians, especially the youth are smart enough not to be impressed by these networks," the general explained.

He went on to say that illicit drugs are the biggest threat to human society and in the fight against the devastating effects of drugs "we need to have stronger social attachment."

All groups have right to contest presidential election: top reformer

Pro-reform figure Mohammad Reza Aref has said that all political groupings, including reformists, have the right to contest the 2013 presidential election.

"The presence and participation in elections is a duty on the one hand, and, on the other hand, is the right of political groups. Therefore, reformists, like other groups, have the right to participate in the (next) round of elections," Aref, who served as vice president under president Mohammad Khatami from 2001 to 2005, told the Persian service of the Mehr News Agency in an interview published on Saturday.

"In the country, the ground should be prepared in such a way that reformists, like other groups, could participate in determining the country's destiny," he added.

Aref, who is currently a member of the Expediency Council, went on to say that reformists have been one of the most "deep-rooted" and "influential" political groupings in the country.

"If we want to be successful in running the country, we have no way other than the serious participation of reformists," he noted.

Asked if he thinks the people would welcome the reformists' participation in the election, he stated, "The people have usually welcomed reformists warmly. If the country's social-political situation develops in such a way that the ground could be prepared for the participation of reformists, I feel that the people will welcome it."

When asked if he has a serious decision to stand as a candidate in the election, Aref said, "I will not talk about it at this juncture and believe that it is too early to talk about" possible candidates.

"The most important issue is serious public participation. If the way is paved for participation, those who feel a sense of duty and can run the country will enter the scene of the election," he added.