The Guardian Council has blocked two prominent figures from running in the June 14 presidential election. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a two-term former president, and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, former chief of staff to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, were both left off the list of eight approved candidates. Rafsanjani questioned whether Iran’s leaders know what they are doing in comments to his campaign staff on May 22. “I don’t think the country could have been run worse, even if it had been planned in advance,” he said according to opposition websites. Rafsanjani reportedly does not have plans to challenge the Guardian Council’s decision.
But Mashaei and his supporters, including President Ahmadinejad, have vowed to contest the Guardian Council's ruling. “I consider my disqualification as unjust, and I will follow up with the supreme leader,” Mashaei said on May 21. The following are excerpted reactions by the barred candidates, their supporters and other Iranian leaders.
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former president and current Expediency Council chief
"I know that I shouldn't have run. I know them [Iran’s leaders] better than anyone else… I don’t think the country could have been run worse, even if it had been planned in advance… I don’t want to get involved in their types of attacks, but their ignorance is troubling. They don’t know what they’re doing…” May 2013 to campaign staff, according to opposition websites
Eshagh Jahanhgiri, Rafsanjani’s campaign manager
“Rafsanjani will not consider any objection to his disqualification by the Guardian Council… Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani and his campaign staff entered this race with absolute adherence to the rule of law and will continue the same way… Mr. Hashemi is one of the pillars of the system and will hopefully remain so.” May 21, 2013 in an interview with the Iranian Students’ News Agency
Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, former chief of staff to President Ahmadinejad
“I consider my disqualification as unjust, and I will follow up with the supreme leader… God willing, it will be resolved.” May 21, 2013 in an interview with Fars News Agency
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, outgoing president
“I believe the right of an oppressed man won't be trampled at this level in a country where there is velayat-e-faqih (guardianship of the jurist)… I ask those who support me and Mr. Mashaei to be patient, because there will be no problem due to the presence of the Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei).” May 22, 2013 to reporters
Mashaei's campaign office
The campaign office will use “the full legal capacity of the country” to contest Mashaei’s rejection. “We also ask the president Ahmadinejad to use his position to fix any possible violation over this issue.” May 21, 2013 in a statement
Ali Motahari, member of parliament
“It appears the disqualification [of Rafsanjani] has happened for two unjustifiable reasons: his physical inabilities and his role in the 2009 sedition. This is damaging to the upcoming elections... My strong assumption is that if Imam Khomeini were alive, and he registered under a pseudonym, he would be disqualified, because sometimes he expressed criticism." May 2013 in a letter to the supreme leader
Naeimeh Eshraghi, reformist activist and granddaughter of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
“Old age is not something that the Guardian Council should determine, since the law allows candidates of this age. If the Guardian Council disqualified Hashemi [Rafsanjani], it should give a compelling reason for having done so, and Mr. Hashemi would certainly pursue legal means [if necessary], although I do not think he will contest this matter. The solution to the Guardian Council's disqualification of Mr. Hashemi is not street protests and creating disturbances.” May 22, 2013 in remarks to Tasnim news
Ali Asgari, member of parliament and Expediency Council Strategic Studies Center deputy
“Ayatollah Hashemi, risking his reputation, came to the election to help shape the political ‘epic’ that the supreme leader mentioned… The Guardian Council’s disqualification of Hashemi was a shock for society, raising many questions by elites of the system…
We had marjas (high ranking clerics) such as Ayatollah Araki, who passed away when he was 100. Imam Khomeini was also leading the country at a relatively old age but with more vitality, and today, the supreme leader, who is a few years younger than Hashemi, has lead the system for many years…
Nevertheless, we abide by the law and would do anything for progress of the system… If Mr. Hashemi’s case is related to his old age, the physical health of others should be a matter of investigation.” May 22, 2013 according to Mehr News Agency
Hassan Khomeini, mid-ranking cleric and Ayatollah Khomeini's eldest grandson
“From now on, Hashemi Rafsanjani’s name will not only be tied to fighting and revolution, the Holy Defense [1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War], and reconstruction… Your name, combined with hope for tomorrow, will have a prominent role in the memory of the Iranian people." May 22, 2013 in a letter to Rafsanjani
Ali Khamenei, supreme leader
“I would announce this to everyone, all you know, those who were disqualified, are not necessarily incompetent individuals. Do not suppose because this guy was disqualified, he is no longer competent for any job; no, but he could not, according to law, run for elections; it might be that the authority disqualifying him was not careful enough; he may have not be competent for this particular job; but he may have other competences. Disqualification of an individual would not be assumed as his failure in whole life; but that he has other qualifications.” May 21, 2013 in a reposting of February 2011 remarks on his website and Facebook page
Abbas Ali Kadhkhodaei, Guardian Council spokesman
“According to the law, disqualified candidates cannot appeal the decision of the Guardian Council… So the Guardian Council believes that an old candidate, despite his well management ability, is not physically capable to accept the responsibilities of presidency… If a presidential candidate disqualified by the Guardian Council, it doesn’t mean that he is not qualified to serve in other political positions.” May 21, 2013 in an interview with state television