Nuke talks stance divides Iran candidates
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-24 08:38

Iran's stance in delicate nuclear talks with the West is shaping up as a key issue dividing the two candidates who face each other in Friday's presidential runoff — and U.S. and European officials are watching closely.

It also is a top campaign issue for Iranians themselves, who view the nuclear program as a source of both national pride and worrying tension with the United States and Europe.

Ultraconservative candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the 49-year-old mayor of Tehran, has indicated he will push for a tougher position at the talks if he becomes president. But key nuclear officials have said they'd like to see the country's top job go to Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, 70, a former president with an experienced hand.

Former Iranian President and presidential candidate Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's poster hangs on a lamp post at Naghsh-e-Jahan square in Isfahan, Iran, Wednesday June 22, 2005.[AP]

The United States accuses Iran of using a peaceful nuclear program as a cover to develop an atomic bomb. Iran maintains its program is peaceful and aimed only at generating electricity.

Ahmadinejad, in comments that drew sharp criticism from the Foreign Ministry, accused Iran's nuclear negotiators Monday of being weak and bowing to European pressure at the negotiation table. He also told a news conference last week he could not foresee improved ties with any country that "seeks hostility" against Iran, a reference to the United States.

Some Ahmadinejad supporters, including the hard-line Students' Islamic Association, want the government to seek nuclear weapons to "deter the United States from threatening or attacking us."

A general view of the shrine of Imam Khomeini's (Iran's late Leader) southwest of Tehran June 24, 2005. Iranians vote in a presidential run-off election on Friday. [Reuters]

"We've had enough of waiting for Westerners to decide about us," said Mansour Hesami, 37, who has a portrait of Ahmadinejad in his dry cleaning shop. "We have to resume our nuclear activity as soon as possible after Ahmadinejad comes to power."

In contrast, Rafsanjani is widely expected to keep key nuclear negotiators in place — and remain open to a compromise with the West — if he wins.

Rafsanjani has campaigned extensively on the plank that he is the most capable person to handle the sensitive talks.

"Rafsanjani can manage the important issues of Iran, especially the nuclear story, in a moderate way," said Reza Khatibi, 47, a book store owner. "If he's not elected, I will leave this country. It will be so dangerous."

The two face the head-to-head runoff after both failed to win a majority in the first round of the election, which ended with bitter accusations that Republican Guards and other hard-liners helped fix the vote in Ahmadinejad's favor.

A member of the military and at least 25 other people were arrested for suspected election violations, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported Thursday.

A statement from Iran's armed forces said none of its personnel was implicated. That would point toward the elite Revolutionary Guards or the paramilitary "basiji" vigilantes — both considered firm supporters of Ahmadinejad.

Full details of the alleged infractions were not given, but some were linked to distribution of CDs and other material, IRNA said, citing a statement by election overseers in the Interior Ministry.

In a related move, the Interior Ministry's election supervisor, Mojtaba Rashad, called on the judiciary to ban Revolutionary Guards and basijis from acting as observers at polling stations.

Iran's 70 million population is tipped toward the young. More than half are under 25 years old and many tend to support self-declared moderate Rafsanjani.

Ahmadinejad, meanwhile, finds support among backers of the Islamic system and the millions of impoverished Iranians who believe he will give them a fairer share of the regime's money and attention.

Rafsanjani, who served as president from 1989 to 1997, has been lauded by Iran's top nuclear officials. They say the country needs his wisdom and experience to handle the nuclear negotiations.

Gholamreza Aghazadeh, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said during a recent interview that Rafsanjani was the only person who could positively present Iran's position, given his influence, moderate views and political clout.

Hasan Rowhani, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, said Iran needed a powerful and experienced president to successfully handle the issue — an open reference to Rafsanjani.

Iran suspended all uranium enrichment-related activities last November to avoid possible United Nations sanctions.

In negotiations with Europeans last month, Iran agreed to continue its suspension in exchange for a European pledge to come up with comprehensive proposals for a new round of talks later this year.

However, Iran has always said its suspension is temporary and it will never abandon enrichment. Uranium enriched to low levels has energy uses, while highly enriched uranium can be used in bombs.

France, Britain and Germany have offered economic incentives in the hope of persuading Iran to permanently halt enrichment.

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