Iranian MP Warns against Efforts to Spoil Presidential Election’s Atmosphere

Iranian MP Mohammad-Reza Aref maintains that a trend has begun in Iran which seeks to cause disappointment and frustration in the country, especially in universities, and charge the overall atmosphere of the country’s upcoming elections (19 May) with lassitude and indifference to prevent the continuation of a movement started in the country in June 2013.

According to a Farsi report by ISNA, addressing a group of university students, he warned them about efforts currently underway by certain circles to spoil the atmosphere of Iranian universities, calling on the students to be proud of themselves for being heir to a formation which has a very precious historical background.

He stressed that all efforts are required to be aimed at preserving the formation’s identity.
Aref said the Iranian party opposing the country’s reformists has all the potential facilities [to win the competition] including the state TV — Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) — which both fails to be available to the reformist and pro-government moderate parties and has turned into a tribune for confronting them.

“Reformists approve of the Establishment. They only maintain that certain criticisms can be levelled at the functions and performances.”

Referring to the Central Council of the Islamic Association of Students, Aref said considerable effort is made to decompose this council, which, fortunately, has failed so far.

“We have reached out a friendly hand to all of the country’s political circles by, having a long-term vision in mind and putting forward the idea of holding national dialogues. We, benevolently, seek to overcome the domestic challenges faced by the [1979] Islamic revolution [of Iran] and maintain that resolving these problems will be in the interest of the Establishment.”