Here is IFP’s translation of Iranian media reports about the issue:
Abbasi, who calls himself the ‘Kissinger of Islam’ and is known for his controversial speeches about various fields like Cinema, Economy, History and Politics, had delivered a speech back in 2009 in University of Tehran.
In a video clip recently published of his remarks in Iran, Abbasi, who is the head of the ‘Centre for Doctrinal Strategic Studies’, lashes out at the Iranian Army’s inaction, particularly the political and social issues.
The remarks were widely criticized by Iranian officials, especially those in the IRGC and the Army, which are the two units of Iranian Armed Forces.
Head of the IRGC’s Public Relations Department General Ramezan Sharif said on Sunday, July 31, that the IRGC never confirms such remarks, and any move that weakens the Islamic Republic’s institutions and structures is condemned.
He further hailed the coordination between the Army and the IRGC in spite of the differences in their missions, saying that such strategic cooperation has provided the country with sustainable and unique security in the crisis-hit Middle East.
“IRGC and Army are a single soul in two bodies. They are the single hand and the iron fist of the Iranian nation against the enemy’s front, and any effort to weaken and cause rift between the Iranian Armed Forces is doomed to failure,” he went on to say, as reported by ILNA.
Earlier, the Commander of Army Ground Force Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan noted that Abbasi should apologize for his remarks.
He said the Army’s legal department has filed a lawsuit against Abbasi, and he should appear in the court soon.
Commander of the Army Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari also described Abbasi as a person who thinks he knows everything in every area including politics, society, economy, culture, philosophy, geopolitics, geo-strategy, geo-culture, and the like, while he is not an expert in such fields.
Abbasi later appeared in the military court and explained about his remarks.
After the court appearance, he sent a message on Monday, August 1, to Army Commander Major General Ataollah Salehi and apologized for his remarks. He at the same time noted that the move to release the video after six years was an effort by ‘liberals’ and ‘anti-Revolution’ media to deviate Iranian public opinion from such important issues as the astronomical salaries, widespread economic downturn, the US betrayal in the post-JCPOA era, a secret meeting [between President Hassan Rouhani and Israelis] in August 1986 in Paris, among other things.
