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Khamenei's Chief Apologist in London Changes his Tune on US-Iran Relations

December 18, 2020
Faramarz Davar
4 min read
Ataollah Mohajerani, who now lives in England, formerly served as vice-president and Minister of Culture in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Ataollah Mohajerani, who now lives in England, formerly served as vice-president and Minister of Culture in the Islamic Republic of Iran
In a recent tweet he praised Ayatollah Khomeini's understanding of US strategy in Iran, claiming the Supreme Leader's knowledge was second to none
In a recent tweet he praised Ayatollah Khomeini's understanding of US strategy in Iran, claiming the Supreme Leader's knowledge was second to none
More than 30 years ago, a discreet dispute between Mohajerani and Ali Khamenei about foreign relations ended with the Supreme Leader apologizing to him
More than 30 years ago, a discreet dispute between Mohajerani and Ali Khamenei about foreign relations ended with the Supreme Leader apologizing to him

"In our country, no one has understood the nature of American strategy as accurately as Ayatollah Khamenei.”

So says Ataollah Mohajerani, a former vice-president and Minister of Culture for the Islamic Republic of Iran who now resides in the United Kingdom. In a post on his Twitter account, Mohajerani shared a picture of several books he had apparently studied in order to write a book entitled Critique of the Modern Distortion of Imam Khomeini's Speech and Behavior. “I read the memoirs of American generals and politicians,” he said, “[and] I have reached this conclusion.”

This is a curious shift in stance for a man who, thirty years ago in May 1990, had a discrete but quite singular dispute with Khamenei over Iran-US relations that led to the Supreme Leader apologizing to him.

While serving as vice-president under Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Mohajerani had written an article in the newspaper Ettela'at entitled “Direct Negotiations”, which raised the need for bilateral communications between Iran and the United States.

"US Secretary of State James Baker announced the United States was ready to negotiate directly with Iranian officials," the then-vice president wrote. “Direct negotiation of divine missionaries with the enemies of God is the custom of revolutionaries and independent politicians of the world... negotiation does not mean accepting domination and subjugation. It is especially important that in today's world that we do not build a high wall around the country and the people, and live in a world of negating any relationships."

In the article, Mohajerani went on to say Iran should avoid wasting opportunities for bilateral relations with the United States. According to Rafsanjani's diaries, the piece was met with vehement criticism in other media – including an editorial in Jomhouri-e Eslami newspaper – which within a week had escalated to such a point that Mohajerani “came [to me] and asked permission to respond, denouncing the insults of opponents against his article.”

It seems that Rafanjani, who did not oppose direct negotiations with the United States at this time, did grant him this permission. As Mohajerani went on to explain in a second missive: "All members of the government saw that the president's view was that people of opinion could express their views in society."

But then on May 2, six days after the publication of Mohajerani’s original article, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei himself slammed Mohajerani – without naming him – in a speech delivered in Tehran. “I believe those who think we should deal with the forces of arrogance, that is, to negotiate with the United States,” he said, “are either naive or intimidated. Shame on a nation that bows to US dominance. I oppose negotiating with the United States, and the government of the Islamic Republic cannot do so without my permission."

Hashemi Rafsanjani would later write: "[That night] I told Ayatollah Khamenei on the phone that Mr. Mohajerani had been offended by his speech. It was agreed that a compromise would be reached."

In a letter dated the same day, which was unprecedented then and would remain unprecedented for the next 30 years, Khamenei apologized to Mohajerani – with the caveat wrote that he would not be following his advice. "Dear brother, Mr. Ataollah Mohajerani,” he wrote. “I heard that some people have inferred from my speeches today the intention of taunting or insulting your excellency, and some may have wanted or want to use it as a pretext for insulting you.

“I declare that this inference is incorrect. I offered a thought and had no intention of insulting anyone, and I apologize to you if you have been insulted. I have known you for 10 years as a person of honesty, purity, and sincerity, and I am sure that you have no intent other than compassion and benevolence. You are still my brother, but we will not follow your advice about the direct negotiations you mentioned in your article."

Mohajerani does not appear to have reconsidered his views in the 25 years since this article was published in the Etela'at newspaper. He would later resign as Minister of Culture in 2000 in the face of sustained criticism from Khamenei for his “liberal” policies, and moved to London. He has not directly challenged Khamenei’s view since then but did make oblique reference to it in a comment posted on his website at the outset of the nuclear talks. "It is clear that the taboo on negotiating with the devil has been broken,” he wrote. “But of course, there are those for whom enmity with the United States has become a busines.”

Now, suddenly, Mohajerani has abruptly praised Khamenei's views, describing him as an individual with a unique understanding of US strategy in Iran. This is a strange apparent shift in the position of someone who has held a rather different view for the best part of 30 years.

 

Related coverage:

Iranian Official who Campaigned for Rushdie’s Death now Lives in London

Iranians in the UK Should Call Out Khomeini’s Apologist

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