Ahmadinejad: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is like father to meMay 16, 2011 - 13:01 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on May 15 rejected speculation that he had any differences with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In an interview on state television, the president made no mention of the main source of such speculation: the dismissal of Iranian intelligence chief Heydar Moslehi, which Khamenei vetoed and eventually blocked. “My relationship with the leader is not only upon belief but also personal - he is like a father to me,” Ahmadinejad said. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran has been ruled under the Vali Faqih system, in which one senior cleric at ayatollah level has, according to the constitution, the final say on all state affairs and can even veto decisions by the president. Ahmadinejad was criticized by several clergy circles for allegedly having disobeyed Khamenei's order to reinstate the intelligence chief, monstersandcritics.com reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute urges Armenia to respect people’s right to dissent The Lemkin Institute has urged the Armenian government to respect people’s fundamental human right to express their dissent. Iran’s Red Crescent sends aid to Armenia’s flood-hit regions The Iranian Red Crescent Society has sent humanitarian aid to the victims of deadly floods that hit northern Armenia on May 25-26. Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. |