Mar. 10, 2021

The curious candidacy of IRGC general Saeed Mohammad

Iran/Politics

The story: Saeed Mohammad, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) general, has officially declared his intention to run in Iran’s June presidential elections. Referring to the approaching campaign period, Mohammad has stated that he faces a “difficult” road ahead. Concurrently, he announced on Twitter that he has resigned from his post as commander of the IRGC Khatam Al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, a major contractor in industrial and development projects.

The coverage: Mohammad’s resignation statement cited the need to “protect” the military organization from being accused of election meddling. Whether he actually resigned or was removed, however, is disputed. His declared resignation and the announcement of his candidacy on March 7 have not been warmly welcomed by conservatives.

Hamid Reza Taraqi, a senior member of the conservative Islamic Coalition Party, told Reformist outlet Rouydad 24 on March 9 that "Mohammad is not yet a well-known figure in society and therefore has little chance of success." Downplaying Mohammad’s candidacy, Taraqi stated, “He is far behind in the polls.”

Meanwhile, Hossein Kanaani Moqaddam, a conservative political activist, called on Mohammad to withdraw in favor of former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaee, who is also rumored to be eyeing the presidency. Kanaani Moqaddam maintained that the candidacies of multiple IRGC generals is not a “positive” occurrence as it could split votes.

Reformist newspaper Etemad argued on March 8 that Mohammad’s electoral decision was not unexpected. It reported that he has been in “consultation with various conservative parties” to gain their approval and support.

Writing on his Telegram channel, Mohammad Mohajeri, editor of the moderate Khabar Online, stated on March 9 that the candidacy of Mohammad “should be taken seriously.” Mohajeri maintained that the IRGC general could be a surprise “phenomenon” of 2021.

The context/analysis: While Mohammad has stated that he resigned from the IRGC Khatam Al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, there are speculations that he may have actually been dismissed by IRGC commander Hossein Salami. In a statement announcing the appointment of Mohammad’s successor on the IRGC’s “Sepah News” website, there is no mention of his declared resignation request. Of note, standard practice in Iran would be for resignation requests to be mentioned explicitly in statements. Some local media have therefore suggested that Mohammad may have been ousted from his position in a move related to his electoral activities allegedly having provoked senior IRGC commanders.  

The reportedly 52-year-old Mohammad is claimed to have stated that his determination to run for the presidency is rooted in the “Second Step” statement of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In 2019, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Khamenei released a long statement in which he called on the “young generation” to enter the executive field.

Mohammad is not the only IRGC general that is aiming for the presidency, but is the one with the most youthful profile. However, like other military candidates, he faces pressure from the public, as the late Ayatollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, had banned military organizations from entering politics and elections. The military candidates and their supporters have argued that the law does not forbid generals from registering to run for presidential elections.

Meanwhile, Mohammad has seemingly been attempting to rebrand himself. Indeed, over the last few months, various pictures of him smartly suited up have been appearing online through social media. Moreover, he has apparently sought to emphasize a somewhat technocratic profile for himself, since he has a PhD in Civil Engineering.

Beyond these exercises in building a relatable profile though, Mohammad is known as a conservative. Notably, he has urged the Reformist-backed administration of Hassan Rouhani not to seek cooperation with the West.

The future: Mohammad is likely aware of that few conservatives are willing to support him as a candidate for the presidency. Indeed, the initial negative reactions among conservatives may indicate that this will be the case in June.

Against this backdrop, Mohammad may seek to try to take advantage of the Iranian public’s anger with both conservatives and Reformists, which was reflected in the 2017-18 nation-wide protests. In a context of general disaffection with the political establishment, he may attempt to portray himself as an independent candidate who is also fed up with factional power struggles.

In such a scenario, Mohammad would be able to attract the votes of some Iranians who prioritize day-to-day concerns over any political allegiances. Moreover, his campaign will likely focus on his young age, suggesting that he is the symbol of what Khamenei has described as a “young revolutionary government.” The successful fashioning of this image would also help him win the ballots of religious voters.

Amwaj.media
Amwaj.media
Amwaj.media
فارسیPersian
فارسیPersian
عربيArabic
عربيArabic