Iran Presidential Debate Sparks Controversy (VIDEO)

Iran's televised presidential debate Wednesday between incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and leading contender Mir Hussein Mousavi sparked a controversy when Ahmadinejad leveled corruption charges against a number of his critics, the Guardian reports.

Apparently trailing in the opinion polls, Ahmadinejad attempted to link Mousavi - the main reformist candidate - to the past governments of Rafsanjani and the reformist ex-president Mohammad Khatam, which he said had been guilty of widespread graft. Among others, he singled out Rafsanjani's sons as well as Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri, the current head of the supreme leader's inspectorate.

According to the Guardian, Ahmadinejad's accusations crossed the line to the point where even his supporter, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, spoke out against him.

Iran Negah now has an English translation of the full debate, which was in Farsi.

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Comments

[Hanzi Lai]

So now who dares to say Iran is a country full of irrational radical zealots crying for the destruction of the west ? What strikes me is this presidential debate is like any other in the west, opinions of both sides have a chance to be heard. I hear 2 people of a country trying to do the best for their own people. They are as guilty of being a patriot in their own country as patriots among us who just wants the best for their own. Granted, the system still have room for improvement but so do Americans when it comes to understanding the Middle-East. Why are we not even trying to talk to them, what's wrong with previous US governments, they treat them like lepers to be avoided. I think President Obama struck a raw nerve when he said in Cairo "It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share.". How powerfully true.

[ZenCrusader]

Ahmadinejad is so afraid of losing power, he peed on the Persian Carpet.
Unable to control himself, he lashed out at his opponents with charges of corruption, the most extreme one being the attack on Zahra Rahnavard, wife of Moussavi.
He has sown the seeds of his own demise.
“If the president can say these things about corruption and not be punished, others will say them, too. This is unprecedented and will have consequences.”
Increasingly Iranians see Ahmadinejad for the deranged sophomoric lunatic that he really is.
This is good.

[Rog49Thomas]

How does one say "He's not wearing a flag lapel pin" in Farsi?

[me again]

The little angry man looks more like a chimpanzee than Bush.....

[cuniverse]

You yes you if you are of European extract .
When in you past and present countries History Have Iran ever Attacked it ,or try to influence you leaders?
Now how many times Have (A ) European countries attacked Iran (B) how many times have Europeans occupied Iran and setting Agendas in Iran’s Governments regarding their natural resources?
So if you are of European Extract , why are you afraid of Iran when you ancestors are the ones who has attacked and plundered Iran Numerous times in the past for the last 200 years

[ClearingtheAir2010]

English please. And are you talking about fruit or people?

[ZenCrusader]

Iran has the blood of every innocent person slaughtered by Hezbollah on its hands. It is no neocon wetdream that Iran funds terrorists who target civilians - it is true. Iran should try being a glorious nation again instead of an extremist lunatic terrorizing the world.

[Wozzeck]

The neocons are supporting Ahmadi-Nejad
http://www.ips.org/blog/jimlobe/?p=256

[SkimaskBob]

Starting out the debate by placing blame ... I thought this guy was supposedly a good politician? He's Effed - Mousavi '09!

[NeoStar9]

When the Ayatollah has to check you, you know you've gone to far. Ahmadinejad better cool down and quick.

[Shashi0224]

Hopefully, Ahmahdinejad will be out soon. That would be a giant boost for good.

[Hirnlego]

Are you sure? It would be more difficult for our leaders to sell another (possible) war.

Please think about them too...

[wereeverywhere]

Your consideration is admirable, H_go. I remember my warmongering leaders in my prayers every night.