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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran commander criticises government over influence from West |
| 2013-12-12 |
| [Pak Daily Times] The commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard force has criticised the government, saying it was under the influence of Western ideas and fundamental change was needed. Major General Mohammad Jafari's comments are some of the sharpest to be made by a bigwig in public since moderate holy man Hassan Rouhani took office as president in August pledging to improve Iran's relations with regional countries and the West. The Rouhani government's diplomatic initiative led to an agreement with six world powers last month under which Iran is to curb its disputed nuclear programme in return for limited relief from sanctions that have squeezed its economy. The interim accord has been widely welcomed by Iranians both at home and abroad, but hardliners in the country's multi-layered power structure are irked by the foreign policy shift and warn against the dangers of getting too close to the West. "The military, systems and procedures governing the administrative system of the country are the same as before, (but it) has been slightly modified and unfortunately infected by Western doctrine, and a fundamental change must occur," Fars news agency quoted Jafari saying on Tuesday. The comments by Jafari - the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) - underline the challenging task Rouhani faces in seeking a nuclear deal and improved relations abroad without provoking a dangerous backlash from powerful conservative groups. |
| Posted by:Fred |