Iran Flashback: Ahmadinejad, at Cabinet Meeting, Bows to Authority of Supreme Leader

Amidst the growing political conflict in Iran, a look back at the statement of the President's office after last Sunday's Cabinet meeting.

The summary starts with the apparent political concession by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, acknowledging the authority of the Supreme Leader:

We all must follow leadership of the supreme jurisprudent, a reference to Office of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei....President considered the Guardianship of Supreme Jurisprudent as a most important pivot of Islamic Republic and referring to Leader of the Islamic Revolution‘s statements made the remarks that we will never let the enemies to abuse some interior issues of the country.

Indeed, this statement is repeated in slightly different variants for the next six paragraphs:

President, Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has stressed that the Iranian government, just like the Iranian people, are highly committed and follow the rule of the supreme jurist, or Velayat-e-Faghih. President Ahmadinejad praised the constant support of the Leader of Islamic Revolution, for his government, and emphasized that the tenth government adheres completely to Velayat-e-Faghih or the rule of the supreme jurist. President Ahmadinejad stressed that all ministers in his government adhere to the principle of Velayat-e-Faghih or the rule of the supreme jurist, as a central belief and a key working principle.

President Ahmadinejad vowed that he will remain on the path of the Just Jurisprudent and will oppose arrogant powers and the Zionist Regime until his last breath.

Finally, in its last two paragraphs, the summary touches on other matters: "At the cabinet meeting on Sunday the latest regional, international and domestic issues were discussed by ministers. Pres. Ahmadinejad also praised the efforts of his ministers in different fields such as reforming subsides, development and meeting the country's fundamental needs."

All resolved, then? Well, for those anticipating the trouble that may still lay ahead, the President's office put out an image of only three people: Ahmadinejad, controversial 1st Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi, and even more controversial Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai.