Veteran activist hits out at disobedient politicos, defends Rafsanjani

TEHRAN, Nov. 15 (MNA) – Habibollah Asgaroladi, secretary general of the Followers of Imam and Leadership Front, criticized certain political figures who did not obey the Supreme Leader to accept the authenticity of the last year’s presidential election.

“(Political) elites who did not accept the (Supreme Leader’s) decree on the recent election failed (to act on the principles of the Islamic system),” Asgaroladi said in a recent meeting of the principlists in Mashhad.

After the last year’s presidential election, the reformist candidates asserted that the election was rigged, but Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected the claims and endorsed the results of the election.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the conservative activist defended the performance of Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, saying Rafsanjani has always adhered to the Leader’s directives.

Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani is a political cleric, and has always acted on the guidelines of the current Leader and late Imam Khomeini, the veteran politician noted.

But certain figures seek to undermine his reputation and cast doubt on his performance, he added.

After the election, certain extremist groups and pro-administration figures mounted a massive smear campaign against Rafsanjani, claiming that he has been involved in the post-election incidents.

Asgaroladi also enumerated the characteristics of true principlists.

True principlists believe in Islam, the Islamic system, and velayat-e faqih (rule by the supreme jurisprudence), he said.

According to the Supreme Leader, any person who obeys decrees of vali-e faqih (rule by supreme jurisprudent) is a true principlist, he added.