Iran's Khatami Mulls Run for Presidency

[IndianaGreen]

Iran's Khatami Mulls Run for Presidency

In Speech, Former Leader Says Nation's Problems Cannot Be Solved Immediately

By Thomas Erdbrink
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, December 16, 2008; Page A15

TEHRAN, Dec. 15 -- Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami, an opponent of current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's policies, said Monday he is still pondering a bid for the country's highest political office directly elected by the people.

During a speech before hundreds of Tehran University students, who chanted slogans in support of his potential candidacy, Khatami said, "I'm not saying I won't run, I'm just saying that I'm still thinking it over."

"Khatami forever, future president," the students, some of whom demonstrated last week against Ahmadinejad, shouted several times, according to the Iranian Student News Agency.

The former president, who during two terms spanning 1997 to 2005 clashed with several of the country's powerful unelected political institutions, told the students that Iran's "problems" couldn't be solved in one day.

"People's expectations are very high. They want everything to be solved in one night," he told the students, who broke into the auditorium hours before the speech to prevent government supporters from taking their seats, eyewitnesses said. Foreign journalists were banned from entering university grounds.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/15/AR2008121502724.html?hpid=artslot

[oberliner]

1. How is this an I/P story?

Neither Israelis nor Palestinians are mentioned anywhere in the article.

[IndianaGreen]

2. Many times threads are moved down here having no mention of I/P conflict

I oftentimes feel like posting my favorite recipes in here.

[Alamuti Lotus]

3. Dr. Ali Larijani is more likely

What are your thoughts on him?