Ghaempanah Recalls Friendship with Pezeshkian Dating Back to 1979: Humble Then, Even More So as President; No Negotiations Held Without Leader's Approval

The President's Executive Deputy, who has known Pezeshkian since 1979 and their student days, said: 'When he was a second-year student and we had just entered university, and the university was closed, he was humble even then. But now that he is president, I think he is even more humble than before.'

According to the report of Ambassador Arjan Mohammad Jaafar Qaim Panah, today Wednesday (October 22), on the second day of his provincial trip to East Azerbaijan, in a meeting with intellectuals and political, social and cultural activists of the province in Tabriz, he said: From the beginning of the revolution, there was a unity among all religions and Muslims, who were in conflict with one current, for example, communists, etc., but after that, a dualism was slowly formed in the country.

According to Ambassador Arjan, he stated that according to the opinion of the president, we should resolve these dualities, he said: that is, to maintain unity and cohesion, and to resolve the duality of negotiation and war that exists at this time. Because one view is that we should fight and no negotiation, peace or dialogue should take place, and another current says that we should surrender unconditionally, which is not true.

Emphasizing that a decision should be made based on how Iran becomes honorable, the executive vice president said: The government and the system do not accept this dualism. Because the Supreme National Security Council must decide on these issues and the final approval is with the Supreme Leader.

Emphasizing that no negotiations will take place without the approval of the Supreme National Security Council and the approval of the Supreme Leader, Qaimpanah said: "So there is no duality between war and negotiation, and when the decision is made to launch missiles, we will launch missiles according to the order of the Commander-in-Chief. If any leadership deems it appropriate to negotiate, we will negotiate."

He added: The government and our dear brothers in the IRGC and the Supreme National Security Council and those who are at the head of the country, the parliament and the judiciary, practically do not accept this duality.

Emphasizing that paying attention to war and negotiation at the same time does not mean surrender, he said: Just as it does not mean fighting to the last person and the last drop of blood. Of course, if the enemy wants to impose his demands on us, we will not hesitate to fight.

Emphasizing the role of intellectuals, writers, and media activists in managing disagreements, the executive vice president said: Those who work in these areas should help resolve this duality. None of the two currents are against Iran and both of them are passionate about Iran. Of course, on both sides of these spectrums, there are also minorities who are extreme and this situation must be managed.

He added: These two views exist both in the social body and universities, and they may be seen among the clergy, religious activists, Basij and military and security forces, but the existence of these views does not mean that they are accepted by the government.

Dual national and religious identity should be taken into consideration

In another part of his speech, Qaim Panah pointed to the issue of national identity and religious identity and said: There is another duality called cultural and identity duality, where some emphasize only the past and national identity, while others focus on religious identity. While both parts of the identity of Iranians should be taken into consideration.

Referring to the pre-revolution era, he said: During the Pahlavi era, efforts were made to destroy Iran's national identity and Islamic identity, and by holding 2,500-year celebrations, only the imperial identity was emphasized and the religious identity was also distorted, but under the skin of the cities, a religious identity was formed and ultimately led to the Islamic Revolution.

The executive vice president continued: In the first decade of the revolution, some tried to remove our national identity, but they did not succeed. Therefore, the duality of national identity and religious identity must also be resolved.

National and religious identity is linked with Iranian culture and literature

Referring to Iran's historical and religious monuments and symbols, Qaim Panah said: We have Persepolis, we have Shahcheragh, we have Imam Reza (a.s.) and we also have the burnt city. These are the historical and cultural realities of our country and we cannot destroy Persepolis or erase the national identity from people's minds.

He added: We have the human rights of Cyrus and we cannot take this identity from the Iranian nation. In the streets of Tehran and other cities, there are streets named Sattar Khan and Baqer Khan, which indicate the place of these characters in the historical memory of the Iranian people.

Emphasizing on the religious identity of Iranians, Ghaempanah said: Our religious identity is also inviolable. Is it possible to take Imam Hussein (a.s.), Hazrat Abul Fazl (a.s.) and Imam Ali (a.s.) from the people of Iran? Ali-e Homay Rahmat's poem is written by Shahriar and it shows how our national and religious identity is connected with Iranian culture and literature.

National identity and religious identity are the two wings of the identity of the Iranian nation

He clarified: National identity and religious identity are the two wings of Iranian civilization and we must balance these two. Both are respected and the closer we can bring them to each other, the more we have contributed to the progress of the country. This is the meaning of agreement.

Referring to the supreme leader's emphasis on Iranian and Islamic identity, the executive vice president said: Why did the supreme leader tell that eulogist to sing "O Iran"? So that our Iranian zeal is not damaged. National identity and religious identity are the two wings of the identity of the Iranian nation and we must balance these two identities.

Referring to the President's behavior in different situations, he added: "Mr. Medzikian, when they sent greetings and clapped hands at the same time, they unconsciously showed that we wanted both clapping and greetings." Because we are also Iranian Muslims and they say that they are sacrificing their lives for Iran and at the same time they are also benefiting from Nahjul Balagha. This is our Iranian culture of unity.

Referring to social issues and the issue of covering, Ghaem Panah said: There are dualities in social issues as well. Some are on one side of the spectrum and some are on the other. Iran is a religious country and styles that are not compatible with Iranian culture cannot be implemented in it. At the same time, extremists also cause the formation of extremism on the other side.

We must avoid polarizing issues

Emphasizing that we should try to resolve these dualities in the federal government, he reminded: the government and Mr. Mezikian are seeking to resolve these differences and we must avoid polarizing issues.

Referring to his view on the approach of the army officials, the executive vice president said: Based on my knowledge, the army brothers, military commanders and security forces are not looking for the formation of these dichotomies. There may be people with different views in different parts of government and society, but in my opinion, neither the martyred leader nor the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution accepted these dualities.

Negotiations have been done with the permission of the leadership

Referring to the negotiations conducted at different times, including the 12-day war and the Ramadan war, he stated: The negotiations were conducted with the permission of the Supreme Leader. Mr. Bizikian also implemented everything that the Supreme Leader ordered, and if necessary, he presented his arguments and explained, and in the end, every decision he made was implemented.

The Martyr Leader and the Leader of the Revolution do not accept the dualism of absolute war or absolute negotiation

Qaim Panah added: I believe that our martyred leader was the most Iran-friendly leader in history and sacrificed his life for Iran. Therefore, in my opinion, neither the Martyr Leader nor the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution accept these dualities raised in the country, especially the duality of absolute war or absolute negotiation.

Referring to the Supreme Leader's emphasis on preserving the national identity, he said: In the message regarding the reopening of schools, it was emphasized on keeping the Iranian flag raised. A message was also sent for Ferdowsi Day; A poet whose Shahnameh is full of concepts related to Iran and Iranian identity. This shows that national identity is important for us.

Referring to the character of Rostam in the Shahnameh, the executive vice president said: Ferdowsi presents Rostam as both the epitome of authority and the epitome of rationality, and in his stories, rationality prevails over mere authority. In the story of Siavash and Afrasiab, the topic of negotiation is also raised. Therefore, Shahnameh contains both power and rationality and is full of important historical stories of Iran.

The presence of doctors is a new life for Iran

Referring to the sensitive situation of the country and the need to preserve national unity, he said: I hope we can act correctly in this sensitive situation and in this great historical turning point which is decisive for Iran.

Referring to the process of approving the qualification and electing the President of Medical Sciences as the President, Qaim Panah stated: We all know Mr. Medical Sciences. He was not approved during the elections in 1400, but in the new period, despite the words and hadiths that existed, he was approved by the Supreme Leader's strategy and became the president by the people's vote.

He added: People favored him and in my opinion, this fortune was very vital for Iran. I believe that the presence of Mr. Bizikian in these days is like a new life for Iran; Because with the patience and courage that he always talked about, he accepts everyone in practice and even accepts his opponents.

Referring to the approach of medical experts in interacting with the opposition, the executive vice president said: "If Mr. Khatami once said long live my opposition, Mr. Medical experts have gone even further." He says that my opponent will be my colleague and I will work with him. His approach is that people should work together for Iran.

Tabriz has played a prominent role in the formation of the constitutional movement and the Islamic revolution

In another part of his speech, the executive vice president, referring to Tabriz's historical background and struggles, said: This city has played a prominent role in the formation of the constitutional movement and the Islamic revolution, as well as in the cultural, literary, social and defense fields of the country, and by studying the constitutional history, we find out that the association that was formed in Tabriz led the constitutional revolution of Iran.

He listed the siege of Tabriz during the constitutional era, the bravery of Sattar Khan and Baqer Khan and the bravery of these two in the neighborhood-by-neighborhood war among the epics of the history of Tabriz and said: The stability of the people of Tabriz on the way to the formation of the Constitutional Assembly is unique and the constitution of Iran was indebted to Tabriz.

Qaim Panah further pointed to the role of Tabriz in the victory of the Islamic Revolution and recalling the uprising of 29 Bahman 1356 in Tabriz, he said: The Islamic Revolution began in Qom, but Tabriz marked another event. Because after the uprising on 29 Bahman, Jamshid Amoozgar, who was the prime minister, gave a speech and they thought that they could shut down this flow by gathering some of their agents in front of the governor's office.

He continued: At the same time, Tabriz University was the first university that was officially closed before the revolution, or demonstrations were held in Tabriz market and tear gas was fired from different places. Tanks were lined up next to the prayer square and soldiers were also holding guns. But the people stood in front of them and I understood at that moment that blood is victorious over the sword.