In the ceremony which clearly demonstrated the regime's triumviral structure, Khamenei emphasized that Khatami's presidency would be credible only as long as he followed Khomeini's positions.
The beginning of Khatami's presidential tenure will give rise to an unprecedented power struggle among the clerical regime's different factions.
In his remarks today, Khamenei underlined the motto of justice, in opposition to freedom and liberalization. He further assailed capitalist systems, leaving no doubt about the regime's inability to tolerate any reforms. The remarks also confirmed that Khatami's election promises were hollow and impossible to realize.
As the Khomeini regime's Minister of Guidance for 10 years, Khatami was the mullahs' chief censor and directly involved in repression and export of terrorism. He is neither interested nor capable of reforming a regime based on the principle of velayat-e faqih (absolute rule of the jurist-consult).
During his tenure as minister, Khatami time and again defended the export of revolution, death decree for Salman Rushdie, restrictions on women, hostility to Middle East peace, etc. After being elected as president, he reaffirmed his commitment to these fundamentalist positions.
Amidst ruling mullahs' unbridled rivalries, their only common goal is to step up suppression and export of terrorism in a bid to confront the regime's irremediable and increasing crises. Change will only come about when this regime is overthrown in its entirety.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran - Paris
August 3, 1997
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