Presidential candidate and Supreme National Security Council secretary Saeed Jalili has ramped up his election campaigning, holding a rally on Friday at Tehran's Shirudi stadium.Jalili's campaign team --- which has already shown extensive use of social and internet media, unlike the other candidates --- live-tweeted the event as well as using Instagram and Jalili's own website to promote it.
During the rally, Jalili introduced his campaign manager --- fellow nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri --- and made it clear he was appealing to the religious and military bases of power, including the Basij, Revolutionary Guards and war veterans.
The crowd is now chanting: The real Basiji ; Jalili and Bagheri#iranelection#Shirudi#????????#Jalili
Dr Saeed Jalili (@DrSaeedJalili)May 24, 2013
Seyyed Naser Hosseini pour, war veteran#Jalili#Shirudi#Iranelection#????????instagram.com/p/ZsljLlLpMB/
Dr Saeed Jalili (@DrSaeedJalili)May 24, 2013
Jalili has presented himself as a "safe" candidate, a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War with impeccable revolutionary values, who will remain loyal to the Supreme Leader and as a figure who --- through his role as chief nuclear negotiator --- has demonstrated that he has the Islamic Republic's interests at heart.
US Criticises Disqualification of Candidates
US Secretary of State John Kerryhas criticisedthe disqualification of candidates for the Presidential election: The [Guardian] Council narrowed a list of almost seven hundred potential candidates down toofficials of their choice, based solely on who represents the regimes interests."
He continued, "That is hardly an election by standards which most people in most countries judge free, fair, open, accessible, accountable elections."
Kerry said Washington saw "troubling signs" that the Iranian government was slowing down or cutting off Internet access to its citizens: "Ultimately the Iranian people (will) be prevented not only from choosing someone who might have reflected their point of view, but also taking part in a way that is essential to any kind of legitimate democracy."
By Enduring America
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