Moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani to be Iran’s next president

Haaretz reports: “Moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani won Iran’s presidential election on Saturday [6/15/13], the interior ministry said, scoring a surprising landslide victory over conservative hardliners without the need of a second round run-off.

Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar announced on state television that Rowhani secured just over 50 percent of the ballot based on a 72 percent turnout of 50 million eligible voters. ‘Mr Hassan Rowhani … got the absolute majority of votes and was elected as president,’ Najjar said.

The outcome will not soon transform Iran’s long tense relations with the West, call into question its disputed pursuit of nuclear power or lessen its support of Syria’s president in the civil war there – matters of national security that remain the domain of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

But the president runs the economy and wields important influence in decision-making and Rowhani’s meteoric rise could offer latitude for a thaw in Iran’s foreign relations and more social freedoms at home after eight years of confrontation and repression under hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was legally barred from seeking a third consecutive term.

Though an establishment figure, Rowhani is a former chief nuclear negotiator known for his nuanced, conciliatory approach. He has pledged to promote a policy of ‘constructive interaction with the world’ and to enact a domestic ‘civil rights charter’…” (It’s a relief to rid the world of the obnoxious second Hitler of our day. I collected over 500 headlines wherein Ahmadinejad constantly threatened America and Israel. Hopefully President Rowhani will be a little more conciliatory and gracious. However, Imam Khamenei who controls Iran and its people stills pull the puppet’s strings. However we know that Persia which changed its name to Iran in 1935 marches with Russia for Armageddon – Ezekiel 38:1, 2, and 5. See the next two reports.)

Change not expected from Iran’s ‘moderate’ president

WND.com reports: “With Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini looking over his shoulder, newly elected moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani will need to continue somewhat of a hard line against the United States and those Western countries that have imposed sanctions on the nation, according to a report in Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.

Given his moderate approach, however, Rouhani is expected to be in a position to lessen the prospect for public unrest, even though he will have to deal with the issues facing the country that have prompted international sanctions.

He is expected to continue backing the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, push the country’s nuclear development program that has prompted those sanctions, deal with a weak domestic economy and handle the Gulf Arab countries that oppose Iran’s influence in the region.

Despite being what sources say is a well-connected member of Iran’s clerical elite, Rouhani is known to be sympathetic to the domestic on-again, off-again reform movement and wants to have a less confrontational relationship with the West.

His presence is seen as being more accommodating to Khameini, rather than being confrontational as outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was. He sought to expand the powers of the presidency but Rouhani is expected to be far less publicly confrontational with the Iranian supreme leader…”

New Iran president thanks ‘messiah’ for victory

WND.com reports: “Iran’s newly elected president, Hassan Rohani, attributed his victory in the June 15 voting to the 12th Imam, Mahdi, a statement with ominous overtones in the Islamic regime’s quest for nuclear weapons.

The Shiites believe that at the end of times, the 12th Imam, a 9th-century prophet, will reappear with Jesus Christ at his side, kill all the infidels and raise the flag of Islam in all four corners of the world. Many analysts believe Iran is seeking nuclear capability to bring on that Armageddon.

‘This political [election] was due to the kindness of the last Islamic messiah [Mahdi],’ Rohani said…”

Spokesman Says Iran’s President ‘Will Return With Hidden Imam’

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty reports: “An Iranian government spokesman has said that outgoing President Mahmud Ahmadinejad will return with the Hidden Imam, who according to Shi’ite belief went into hiding in the 10th century and will reappear to bring justice to Earth.

‘God willing, with the manifestation of Imam Mehdi, Ahmadinejad will also return and work for the establishment of pure Islam,’ spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham was quoted as saying by Iranian news agencies.

Ahmadinejad and his close aides have been criticized in Iran over their repeated references to Mahdi and signs of his imminent coming.

Ahmadinejad came under fire in March for saying that former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will be resurrected alongside Jesus and the Hidden Imam…” (This is a deadly headline. Past President Ahmadinejad is now looking for Islam’s messiah, Mahdi. In past headlines this former president stated “I must kill all Jews before my messiah comes. Let’s hope and pray that he can’t find him in order to avoid a global tragedy. However, no nation or person will rid the world of God’s Chosen People – Deuteronomy 7:7, 8; because Yahweh, our God has given Israel “…an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.” – Isaiah 56:5. See the next two reports.)

Iran: Syrian crisis prelude to coming of Mahdi

WND.com reports: “A high Iranian politician believes the Syrian revolution could be the catalyst for sparking a worldwide conflagration that will usher in an era of Muslim domination of the world.

‘One can smell from the crisis in Syria the coming … of the end of times and the coming of the last Islamic messiah,’ said Ruhollah Hosseinian, a member of the Islamic regime’s parliament. Previously he was deputy of the Intelligence Ministry and a member of board of trustees of Islamic Revolution Document Center.

Shiites, whose clerics rule Iran with an iron fist, believe that at the end of times, the 12th Imam, Mahdi, a 9th century prophet, will reappear with Jesus Christ at his side, kill all the infidels and raise the flag of Islam in all four corners of the world. Many analysts believe Iran is seeking nuclear capability to bring on that Armageddon…”

Ahmadinejad touts Holocaust denial as great success of his tenure

Haaretz reports: “Outgoing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described his denial of the Holocaust as one of his greatest achievements, the Fars news agency reported.

‘That was a taboo topic that no one in the West allowed to be heard,’ Ahmadinejad said in a speech looking back at his time in office. He had enough courage to bring up the issue, he said.

‘That broke the spine of the Western capitalist regime,’ he claimed.

Since he was first elected in 2005, Ahmadinejad repeatedly threatened to destroy Israel and called the Holocaust a ‘fairy tale.’ His remarks led to a worldwide wave of condemnation.

About 6 million Jews were murdered in the systematic genocide that took place throughout Europe during World War II under German dictator Adolf Hitler. Holocaust denial is today illegal in Germany and other countries.

President-elect Hassan Rohani described Ahmadinejad’s anti-Israel remarks as ‘hate rhetoric’ that had brought the country to the brink of war.

Ahmadinejad also said in a Tehran ceremony organized by the government in his honor that ‘the name Ahmadinejad is now popular throughout the world.’ This was not only a success for Iranian foreign policy, he said, but had also improved Iran’s image.

‘I had two missions: to build up Iran and to improve the world,’ he said, adding that the two goals were ‘inseparable.’…”

Ahmadinejad Asks Russia to Build New Nuclear Power Plants in Iran

The Fars News Agency reports: “Preliminary talks have been held with Russian officials on the construction of new nuclear power plants in Iran, Ahmadinejad said in a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.

Ahmadinejad further said that the Bushehr nuclear power plant is a symbol of ‘constructive cooperation’ between Tehran and Moscow, adding both sides can develop this model and construct new power plants.

The Iranian President left Tehran for Moscow on Monday [7/1/13] morning to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 2nd summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).

The Bushehr nuclear power plant’s utmost power for the generation of electricity is 1,000mw.

Iran signed a deal with Russia in 1995, according to which the plant was originally scheduled for completion in 1999. However, the project was repeatedly delayed by the Russian side due to the intense pressure exerted on Moscow by the United States and its western allies. Russia finally completed physical construction of the plant last summer, but the facility still needed one more year to gradually reach full power generation capacity…” (Since Russia – Ezekiel 38:1, 2 – and Persia – Ezekiel 38:5 – which changed its name to Iran in 1935, unite for World War III, the above headline makes sense.)