Gen. Salami: IRGC Not to Root for Any Candidate
TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- The chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says his force will not take sides or act against any candidate in the upcoming presidential election.
"Military men, like the rest of the people of this country, can participate in the elections and this has nothing to do with the organization (IRGC), as it is their personal desire,” Major General Hussein Salami said.
The general said there will be no encouragement on the part of the IRGC for officers who register as presidential hopefuls, stressing the force’s commitment to taking no position in favor of or against any candidate.
He emphasized that the IRGC is "sincere” in its conduct. "The IRGC is composed of military men who each vote for their desired candidate and there is no movement within the IRGC that would want to decide on who to vote for or not to vote for.”
On Wednesday, Iran’s Constitutional Council, which interprets the Constitution and vets candidates’ qualifications based on those interpretations, announced that military men can from now on run for president without a need to resign from their position.
Military officers, including former IRGC Chief Mohsen Rezaee and former police chief Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf, had already run for the office — and been approved by the Constitutional Council — in previous elections. But their presidential bids were announced while they were no longer on duty.
Also in the upcoming election, which is scheduled for June 18, former Defense Minister Brigadier General Hussein Dehqan and former head of IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters Saeed Muhammad have put their names forward for the presidential election. Muhammad resigned from his position earlier this year to be able to pursue his presidential ambitions.
"Military men, like the rest of the people of this country, can participate in the elections and this has nothing to do with the organization (IRGC), as it is their personal desire,” Major General Hussein Salami said.
The general said there will be no encouragement on the part of the IRGC for officers who register as presidential hopefuls, stressing the force’s commitment to taking no position in favor of or against any candidate.
He emphasized that the IRGC is "sincere” in its conduct. "The IRGC is composed of military men who each vote for their desired candidate and there is no movement within the IRGC that would want to decide on who to vote for or not to vote for.”
On Wednesday, Iran’s Constitutional Council, which interprets the Constitution and vets candidates’ qualifications based on those interpretations, announced that military men can from now on run for president without a need to resign from their position.
Military officers, including former IRGC Chief Mohsen Rezaee and former police chief Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf, had already run for the office — and been approved by the Constitutional Council — in previous elections. But their presidential bids were announced while they were no longer on duty.
Also in the upcoming election, which is scheduled for June 18, former Defense Minister Brigadier General Hussein Dehqan and former head of IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters Saeed Muhammad have put their names forward for the presidential election. Muhammad resigned from his position earlier this year to be able to pursue his presidential ambitions.