Disqualified Rafsanjani blasts Iran’s rulers

TEHRAN: Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has blasted the Islamic Republic’s clerical rulers, declaring it impossible for them to do a worse job running the country, an Iranian pro-reform website reported Wednesday.
The remarks carried by Jaheshnews.ir come days after a constitutional watchdog disqualified him from running in June 14 presidential elections. They are unusually strongly worded for Rafsanjani, considered a centrist who generally defers to the supremacy of the ruling clerics. The comments are among Rafsanjani’s harshest criticisms of the Islamic Republic’s rulers since he condemned a crackdown on protests that followed 2009 elections. Because of his stance then, Rafsanjani’s 2013 candidacy revitalized reformist hopes.
Rafsanjani has not made any direct public statements since his Tuesday disqualification. The quote was not carried on his official website, and the report could not independently verified.
“I think it is not possible to run the country worse than this,” he was quoted as saying.
He singled out the Guardian Council, the watchdog dominated by clerical hard-liners that disqualified him, for condemnation.
“Wisdom suggests letting him — Rafsanjani — run,” he said. “You should have let people come to the ballots hopefully. They do not know what they are doing.”
Rafsanjani said the council’s decision help foreign enemies of Iran.
The ex-president’s campaign manager has said that he will not protest the decision. But in the remarks carried by Jaheshnews.ir, Rafsanjani said he hoped the Council would reconsider.
“I am still hopeful. There is a hope that they take a serious decision and give another chance to us and the people,” said Rafsanjani.