Aide Says Iran's President Is Suffering From Exhaustion

[tekisui]

BEIRUT -- A close aide to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday that Mr. Ahmadinejad was suffering from exhaustion, raising questions about the embattled president's health and political future.

Mr. Ahmadinejad is known for rising early, working long hours and holding meetings over holidays. Rumors about his health started swirling in the local press last week after he failed to appear at several events. In a bid to reassure the public, Mohammed Ismaeel Kousari, a parliamentarian and close ally of Mr. Ahmadinejad, told the state news agency Sunday that the president was simply worn out.



"Any one can feel tired and weak from working too much, it's normal," Mr. Kousari, said, adding: "The president will eventually get better and return to his duties."

The comments appeared aimed at countering speculation that the president's ill health was putting his ability to run for reelection next year in jeopardy. But the vague disclosure has raised fresh questions about the real state of the embattled president's health, as well as his standing with Iran's clerical establishment, which has the final stay in all state affairs.

Mr. Ahmadinejad has been canceling public appearances and trips sporadically since May. Local media has reported the president suffers from fatigue and low blood pressure, and that doctors have ordered him to reduce his work load. But the president's office hasn't made any disclosures. That has prompted questions about whether he has a more serious illness or whether he's quietly being pushed aside by the Islamic regime's religious leadership to make room for another presidential candidate. A representative of the president's office wasn't immediately available to comment Sunday.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122502583214769821.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Report: Ahmadinejad may not run for president again

Will workload prevent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from running for the president of Iran again? A series of cancellations in the Iranian president's schedule have sparked a wave of rumors stating he may not take pare in the 2009 presidential elections due to health problems.

This week, Iranian website Shihab News quoted sources "close to the president's office" as saying the cancellations were the result of workload and Ahmadinejad's tight schedule.

In recent months, rumors about the 52-year-old president's failing health have been leaked to Iranian media. According to the report, on Wednesday Ahmadinejad canceled his performance at an important convention of the "planning and statistics organization" at the last minute. His adviser said he was "ill."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3612479,00.html

[bigtree]

1. probably a roll out to replace him

nothing like that would surface otherwise

[tekisui]

2. I agree. The clerics must be ready for a new face.

I think this is good. He is as unpopular there as chimpy here. Hopefully, they will put someone in who is more reasonable, and less trigger happy for Obama to deal with.

[camera obscura]

3. If Obama is prez of America and Achmadinejad doesn't run in Iran

and they elect a more pro-America leader in 2009, it'll be hard for RWers to spin the "Obama is helping our enemies" line. I'm crossing my fingers!