Brother Against Brother-Iran

Ahmadinejad vs Ahmadinejad

By Jabbar Fazeli, MD

Davood Ahmadinejad has publicly criticized his brother, the Iranian president Ahmadinejad, for using the term "زنده باد بهار" (long live spring) in a reference to the approaching Iranian elections (1).

The president's brother contends that the indirect mention of the election in Ahmadinejad's recent speech is contrary to the supreme leader directive to not start the "election campaigning" early in order to minimize the appearance of political divisions in the country. (Good luck with that!)

He recently came in support of Larijani in his clash with his brother. Mr. Larijani referenced Davood Ahmadinejad in his parliament speech as a source from whm he had received information on the deviant faction (جريان انحرافي),  in a reference to the Mashaai camp which is supported by the president.

Davood Ahmadinejad had resigned a post in the president's office in 2008 and has been close to the conservative camp, but It is not clear if this affirmation of allegiance to the supreme leader and Larijani, at the expense of his own brother, is out of his long held convictions or is an act of political self-preservation.

References: 

(1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2013/02/130212_nm_ahamdijead_spring_reaction.shtml

Photo credit: unkonwn, Fars news