Speaking to Khabar Online correspondent in Mashhad on Saturday, Rezaei described his prediction of the makeup of the 9th Majlis scheduled to be held on March 2, 2012.
"I suppose it will include the combination of various ideas, all Principlist factions will have their representatives and even a number of reformists will take seats at the next Majlis," he said.
Responding to the question on the results of introducing different lists of candidates by the Principlist factions, Rezaei stated: "I think all political currents will be successful in a way, and each of them will win their own seats at the 9th Majlis."
"On the other hand, if the nominees enter to a healthy competition, introducing different lists won't cause a problem in itself," Secretary of the Expediency Council asserted.
Referring to the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Iran's oil industry, Rezaei pointed out: "The issue of sanctions is serious, but we are able to reduce the effect of their action and offer our crude to the new markets."
"A key problem with the marketing of our oil products was that we had limited the crude selling simply to 4 or 5 countries, but we must be able to sell our oil to 40 or 50 countries," he added.
The European union (EU) passed a new round of economic sanctions against Iran on January 23 after a report of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors released.
The report claimed Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon, an allegation which has been repeatedly rejected by the Islamic Republic which stresses its nuclear program is simply aimed at civilian purposes and no evidence proves the opposite.
The embargoes include an immediate ban on all new contracts to import, purchase or transport Iranian crude and petroleum products. However, EU countries would honor existing contracts up to July 1. Almost 18% of Iranian crude is exported to Europe.
Further measures include freezing the assets of Iran's central bank (CBI) and ban trade in gold and other precious metals with the bank and other state bodies of the country.
As a retaliation, the Islamic Republic of Iran has decided to halt its exports to some European countries before July 1. In the meantime, the ambassadors of some European countries asked Iranian Foreign Ministry to request for the cancellation of measures taken to stop crude exports to Europe before July 1.
Commenting on the issue, Rezaei said: "We Iranians usually make our decisions rather late, but when we finally decide, we will stand up for that. So, I predict that the Islamic Republic of Iran won't back down."
Rezaei was the chief commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in 1981 to 1997. He was also a candidate running for the disputed Iranian presidential vote in June 2009 which led to the reinstatement of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Referring to the threats of the Zionist regime of Israel against Iran, Rezaei asserted: "Israel desires to launch a military attack against the Islamic Republic, however such threats can be foiled earlier than becoming operational."
"Even if Israel takes such foolish action, Iran will be able to defend itself and will give a crushing answer to the invaders," the former IRGC commander suggested.
Israeli officials who regard the Islamic Republic of Iran as an existential threat has indicated to the possibility of a pre-emptive military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities to forestall Tehran's atomic program.
The Zionists plan has been countered even by their closest ally, the United States which believes such attempt would skyrocket tensions in the Middle East region and possibly throughout the world.
Responding to a written question about what is called the "deviant current", Rezaei said: “The measures taken by the sedition current and deviant current caused two sad events which took place during the last two years but the important point is that they should not ignore future by sticking to the past events."
The sedition current is a term used for describing the protests staged against the reelection of Ahmadinejad after June 12, 2009 by his rivals and opponents who suggested that the election was rigged.
Iranian Principalists also say the deviation current is led by the controversial Ahmadinejad's top adviser and his right-hand man Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei.
In several occasions, Mashaei has been accused of adopting measures aimed to reduce the pivotal role of religious jurisprudents (Foqaha) in the political scene of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
281
