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Notes on Hassan Rowhani

10/19/04: Hassan Rowhani the Secretary of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Security Council made a startling announcement today. He has publicly endorsed George Bush for President. He is concerned that the Democrats are too focused on Human Rights and that Bush is far closer to the hard-liners of Iran. I understand their logic but I am also amazed. There is talk of a secret deal and negotiations between the US and Iran in Greece. Iran has been trying to exchange Osama Bin Laden's son for some criminals in the MKO so their may be a pre-election surprise in the works to influence a Bush victory. It will take a major fix to keep Bush in office as it is shaping up to be a Kerry blow-out in the election. Kerry needs 270 Electoral College Votes to win and he is poised to take over 300. Who knows what sort of deal President Bush might make.

Some articles on the Bush Endorsement: Iran throws support behind President Bush, despite "axis of evil" label and Newsday.com - Bush Receives Endorsement From Iran

Photo by AFP/Atta Kenare

Sunday September 5, 01:16 PM Iran said it was sending its top national security official Hassan Rowhani to Europe to forestall US efforts to haul the Islamic republic before the UN Security Council over its nuclear programme.

Hassan Rowhani

Hassan Rowhani is secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (the SNSC). He has held the position of secretary since 1988 which makes him roughly to the Ayatollah Khamenei what Condoleezza Rice s to President George Bush. He has a strong relationship with Ayatollah Khamenei based on trust and a strong personal relationship with Former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Rowhani has a Bachelors degree from Tehran University, and a doctorate in law from Glasgow University. He is an important part of the Pragmatic faction that is in power in Iran today. Friend's in Tehran describe Rowhani as being close to UK Foreign Ministers Jack Straw. Rowhani as a western trained lawyer and a Mullah can move in-between the Iranian "Hard-Liners" and the western politicians and diplomats in ways that most cannot.

Hassan Rowhani in talks with Dutch Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende

Iranian Supreme National Security Council Chief Hassan Rohani (L) welcomes EU Foreign Ministers Jack Straw, Joschka Fischer (R) and Dominique de Villepin(2nd-R) at Tehran's Saadabad Palace October 21, 2003. Iran Tuesday agreed to sign and ratify an agreement on tougher inspections of its nuclear sites and suspend uranium enrichment and processing activities, according to an official declaration obtained by Reuters. [Reuters]

"Neo-Conservative’ Likely To Be Iran’s Next President

The head of Iran ’s Supreme National Security Council, Hassan Rohani, is expected to be the next Iranian president or at least to hold the foreign affairs portfolio in the new government, high-level Iranian and German sources expected.

They were quoted by the Monday, February 23, German edition of the Financial Times as saying that Rohani enjoys strong links with Iran ’s Spiritual Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in the country, and the chairman of the powerful Expediency Council Hashemi Rafsanjani. "Neo-Conservative’ Likely To Be Iran’s Next President