A Daily Briefing on Iran: Rafsanjani Says 'Divine Vengeance' Will Punish Iran Election Violators

BBC Monitoring Service, Monsters and Critics:

Chairman of the Expediency Council and a candidate in Iran's presidential election Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani has issued a statement regarding the second round of election.

Following is the text of the statement as reported by ISNA:

In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful.

To the honourable and pious people of the Islamic Iran.

Your glorious participation in the presidential election strengthened the Islamic system, and delivered a fitting response to the toxic propaganda of the enemies of Iran and the Islamic revolution. I hope the president-elect, Dr Ahmadinezhad, will successfully shoulder this grave responsibility, and fulfil his promises. Without a doubt, everyone should help him in his quest to serve the people.

As I've repeatedly said, I entered the presidential race to fulfil my duty to God and serve the revolution, Islam, Iran and the nation. I shall continue to serve the country - as I've done so in the past.

I did my best with the hope of maximizing public participation, which was an aim of the eminent leader of the revolution, and of increasing the vote of the elected president, and of maintaining national unity.

Fortunately, the first and the second objectives have been realized, and I hope that the third objective will be realized through the vigilance of you the people, and the dutifulness of the country's officials and political and social factions; and that the enemy will not be able to achieve its objectives, i.e. minimum participation, least number of votes for the president and the maximum amount of tension.

I do not intend to take my complaint about the elections to those arbitrators who have proved that they do not want, or can not, do anything. As in the previous case, I only seek my right in the court of divine justice and the God whose help I beseeched, and for whose satisfaction I entered the scene, and with whom I made a deal. I am certain that if anyone is going to be punished in divine vengeance it will not be the people, the Islamic Revolution or Iran, but only the real culprits.

They tried to weaken their rival by weakening the revolution because they knew that their rival would defend the revolution at all times and is not afraid of responsibilities. They have ruthlessly destroyed the reputation of my family and that of mine by spending tens of billions from the public purse in an unprecedented manner. They have interfered in the elections by utilizing the facilities of the [Islamic] system in an organized and illegitimate manner. I am sure that the punishment for their injustice to the country, people and I will only result in their loss in this world and the hereafter. READ MORE

I always pray to God almighty to save the country and the revolution from the enemies, the irrational and faithless opportunists and to guard the path of the late Imam and the achievements of the martyrs, war veterans, those missing in action, former prisoners of war and their respected families.

I would like to express my appreciation to those people who worked hard in the elections and supported me, and thank those ten million people who placed their trust me by voting for me despite massive destructive acts [against my reputation].

Source: ISNA web site, Tehran, in Persian 1532 gmt 25 Jun 05

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