Leaked audio that surfaced on the anniversary of the 1979 revolution has revealed divisions between the former commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the assassinated Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.
The recording of a conversation from three years ago between major general Mohammad Ali Jafari, former head of the IRGC, and his financial deputy Sadegh Zolghadrnia, was broadcast by Radio Farda, one of the Persian-language outlets funded by the US government.
In the tape, the two IRGC commanders speak about the financial activities of the elite forces in Iran. At one point, the former head of the IRGC expresses his concern over revelations of corruption in Yas Holding Company, which provided financial support to the IRGC’s Quds Force under Soleimani’s command.
“Qassem is just now learning what the hell has happened to him with Yas,” Jafari is heard saying in the leaked audio, referring to Soleimani by his first name.
The Quds Force is one of the five branches of the IRGC, responsible for operations in foreign countries.
However, during the over 20 years Soleimani commanded the force, he only responded to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the highest military position in Iran.
Debates arise over constitutional change
Ever since influential conservative politician Mohammad Reza Bahonar renewed calls for a constitutional referendum, members of different political groups have debated possible constitutional change in Iran.
On two occasions, Bahonar, a former MP and a current member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, spoke about the need to change how the executive body functions. He also urged Khamenei to consider a referendum on Iran’s constitution.
His comments received a mixed response from various political factions in Iran. Reformists warned that the change might further reduce the role of citizens in governing the country, while conservatives welcomed Bahonar’s proposal.
“What Bahonar said is what the constitution says,” conservative politician Ezzatollah Yousefian Molla told Khabar Online.