Tehran, August 26: Former president Mohammad Khatami condemned the latest trial of leading reformist officials as “destructive” for Iran’s image in the world, the labour news agency ILNA reported Wednesday. “This process is unfortunate, destructive and without any legal validity,” Khatami said in a statement carried by ILNA.
“The relevant officials should know that these illegal and illegitimate actions would have destructive effects on the image of the Islamic republic’s establishment,” Khatami added.
Several former officials from Khatami’s reformist administration (1997-2005) including his spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh, deputy foreign minister Mohsen Aminzadeh and deputy interior minister Mostafa Tajzadeh, went on trial Tuesday for allegedly cooperating with foreign elements to topple Iran’s ruling system.
Khatami categorically denied claims raised in court that he was in constant contact with the Soros Fund Management Llc and Open Society Institute, headed by US tycoon George Soros.
Khatami had earlier called the hearings “show trials” and demanded for the immediate release of all those imprisoned following protests against alleged vote-rigging in the June 12 presidential polls, including his former deputy Mohammad-Ali Abtahi.
In line with opposition leader Mir-Hossein Moussavi, Khatami has not yet acknowledged President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election and joined protests over the alleged fraud.
–Agencies