NICOSIA Ñ Iran's political life has come to a standstill amid a showdown between Iranian President Mohammed Khatami and supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

The confrontation has also blocked Khatami's plans to name a new Cabinet, including a replacement for Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani.

The showdown stems from the rejection of Khamenei's appointments to the so-called Guardians Council, a group of clerics loyal to the ayatollah and which approves all legislation. Under law, parliament has the power to confirm half of the appointments to the 12-member council.

Currently, there are three vacancies. So far, the Khatami-aligned parliament has rejected seven out of eight candidates presented on grounds that they are inexperienced or politically-aligned.

Khamenei then retaliated and ordered the postponement of Khatami's swearing-in until all vacancies on the council are filled. The president was to have been sworn-in for an additional four-year term on Sunday.

Parliamentary speaker Mehdi Karubi has proposed a compromise to resolve the showdown. Karubi said Khatami's swearing-in ceremony would take place on Tuesday.

Khamenei has called for an emergency session of his council of advisers on Monday.

Khatami's rule is not directly affected by the delay. But without a ceremony, he cannot name a Cabinet. Khatami was being urged to replace many members of his Cabinet, particularly the defense minister.

Shamkhani ran against Khatami in presidential elections in June and oversees Iran's missile and nonconventional weapons programs.

Meanwhile, Iran has launched a military exercise of the vigilante wing of the Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Iranian sources said the three-day exercise began on Sunday is being held in the northern Persian Gulf port city of Bushehr. The city is the site of Iran's nuclear reactor project being constructed by Russia.

The exercise, termed Shahmat-80, or Courage-80, is meant to coordinate the Basij volunteer forces. The Basij is armed and has been used to fight insurgency and smuggling along Iran's borders.

An Iranian military spokesman, Admiral Ali Razmjou, told the official Islamic Republic News Agency that the exercise will take place over an area of more than 8,000 square kilometers. The exercise will include missile launchers, armored personnel carriers, land, sea and air forces.

"It also aims to raise the combat readiness of the forces involved in the games to defend the nation," Razmjou said. "The forces will evaluate their abilities in using arms and military equipment."

The Basij has also been employed against student reformers aligned with President Mohammed Khatami. Last month, Khatami praised the Basij and pledged that the vigilante force would continue to serve as a guardian of the Islamic revolution.

Print this Article

Email this article

Free Headline Alerts