  Ahmadinejad: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is like father to me May 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 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". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia  Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28.Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia.Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports.Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |
