Iran hardliner claims elections "healthy and legal"

Ayatollah Janati, Chairman of Iran's Guardian Council

Iranian hardline cleric, Ahmad Janati announced that Iran’s June presidential elections were the “healthiest” elections and the allegations of fraud in it were “absurd and stupid” claims.

Fars reports that Janati told a group of Amol citizens that there is no question in the validity of the elections because the Guardian Council regards it “fundamentally healthy and legal.”

He added that the Guardian Council is “not tied to any party or power and it desires neither money nor status.”

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was announced as the winner of June presidential elections in Iran and despite strong disputes against this victory and challenges from all three rivals of Ahmadinejad, the Guardian Council approved the victory and refused to call for renewed elections or a re-count.

While Mohsen Rezai, one of the candidates, withdrew his allegation of fraud once the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei approved the outcome of the elections, the two other candidates, MirHosein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi went on to insist on their allegation that the ballot was rigged.

Ayatollah Janati, the Chairman of the Guardian Council spoke of the disputing candidates today saying: “The treachery of these individuals who have sold out themselves to the enemy is unrivalled by any other.”

The elections dispute has fractured the Islamic Republic establishment. While hardline factions support Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and attack the challengers of the elections as foreign conspirators, reformists support the disputing candidates and more moderate factions are against any extremism.