Iranian regime president Rouhani is no reformer
by Amir Basiri
The Washington Examiner, Nov 6, 2017 - In October, Hassan Rouhani , the Iranian regime’s president, reiterated that Tehran will continue to develop ballistic missiles, defying the latest round of Congress-approved sanctions against Iran’s ballistic missile program and a U.N. resolution calling on Iran “not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.”
This bit of news might come as a disappointment to those who view Rouhani as the “moderate” leader the U.S. and the international community should back against “hardliners” in Iran. But it won’t surprise those who know the true nature that governs all the factions that compete within the theocratic regime ruling Iran.
Rouhani made deceptive claims and promises before May's presidential elections to strengthen his bid and portray himself as being at odds with the Revolutionary Guards. The IRGC, the notorious military body that only reports to Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s unelected Supreme Leader, was designated as a terrorist organization by the Trump administration last month.
However, after securing his second mandate, Rouhani retraced his steps and re-established his ties with what he previously called the “government with a gun.” Last month, Rouhani praised the IRGC as the 'beloved' of the Iranian people despite the evident fact that it is the main player behind Iran’s terrorist forays, ballistic missile program, and human rights violations.
Rouhani further proved where his loyalties lie when the IRGC orchestrated a widespread campaign of suppression and crackdown against Iranians who wished to congregate on the day that is named after Cyrus the Great, the ancient ruler of the Persian empire.
Last year, thousands attended the ceremony, which takes place at Pasargadae, 500 miles south of Tehran, where Cyrus' tomb is located. Fearing that under the current tense state of the Iranian society, a similar gathering would evolve into mass protests, the IRGC blocked all roads that led to the area. IRGC motorcades and helicopters patrolled the area and threatened to arrest anyone who would try to join the rally.
This bit of news might come as a disappointment to those who view Rouhani as the “moderate” leader the U.S. and the international community should back against “hardliners” in Iran. But it won’t surprise those who know the true nature that governs all the factions that compete within the theocratic regime ruling Iran.
Rouhani made deceptive claims and promises before May's presidential elections to strengthen his bid and portray himself as being at odds with the Revolutionary Guards. The IRGC, the notorious military body that only reports to Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s unelected Supreme Leader, was designated as a terrorist organization by the Trump administration last month.
However, after securing his second mandate, Rouhani retraced his steps and re-established his ties with what he previously called the “government with a gun.” Last month, Rouhani praised the IRGC as the 'beloved' of the Iranian people despite the evident fact that it is the main player behind Iran’s terrorist forays, ballistic missile program, and human rights violations.
Rouhani further proved where his loyalties lie when the IRGC orchestrated a widespread campaign of suppression and crackdown against Iranians who wished to congregate on the day that is named after Cyrus the Great, the ancient ruler of the Persian empire.
Last year, thousands attended the ceremony, which takes place at Pasargadae, 500 miles south of Tehran, where Cyrus' tomb is located. Fearing that under the current tense state of the Iranian society, a similar gathering would evolve into mass protests, the IRGC blocked all roads that led to the area. IRGC motorcades and helicopters patrolled the area and threatened to arrest anyone who would try to join the rally.
