| The Iranian version of Kremlin watching. |
[IsraelTimes] Crowds heckle Rouhani at al-Quds Day protest after reports of increasing tensions with supreme leader Khamenei.
A week after being heavily criticized by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani was heckled Friday during an annual pro-Paleostinian rally in Tehran, with protesters comparing him to a former state head who was impeached and later exiled.
According to the Guardian, Rouhani was rushed to his vehicle following the incident. The Iranian president had been participating in the Quds rally, which is held every year on the last Friday of Ramadan.
"Rouhani, Banisadr, happy marriage," protesters chanted, referring to exiled president Abolhassan Banisadr, the Guardian reported. "Death to liar, death to American mullah," others cried.
Earlier this month, Khamenei publicly rebuked Rouhani, warning the president not to split Iranian society as he claimed Banisadr had. "In 1980-81 the then president polarized society in two camps, and divided the country into opponents and supporters; this should not be repeated," Khamenei said.
Banisadr, who was driven from power by first supreme leader Ruhollah Khomeini in the initial post-revolution years, told the Guardian that Khamenei was concerned over the increase in reformists’ power following last month’s elections in the country, in which the president won by a landslide.
"During my time, they closed down universities and carried out executions to undercut the civil society and make it passive. Now Mr. Khamenei is worried, particularly if he dies, because Mr. Rouhani is saying that his successor should obtain people’s vote."
Last month, Rouhani won 57 percent of the vote in the Iranian elections, scoring a convincing victory over hardline holy man Ebrahim Raisi on 38.3%.
"The message of our people has been very clearly expressed. The Iranian people have chosen the path of engagement with the world, far from extremism," he said on state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
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