Deviant current explained

Current of Deviation
Native Name:جریان انحرافی
Native Name Lang:Persian
Colorcode:
  1. 073C98
Leader:Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei
Predecessor:Coalition of the Pleasant Scent of Servitude
Founded:2011
Wing1 Title:Public relations wing
Wing1:Havadarn-e Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Wing2 Title:Electoral list
Wing2:Monotheism and Justice Front (2012)
Supporters of Justice Discourse of Islamic Revolution (2012)
Wing3 Title:Political party
Wing3:YEKTA Front
Ideology:National conservatism
Iranian nationalism
Populism
Shia Islamism
Religion:Shia Islam
Affiliation1 Title:National affiliation
Seats1 Title:Islamic Consultative Assembly
Seats1:
Hex:
  1. 073C98
Website:
Country:Iran

The "deviant current" or "current of deviation" (Persian: جریان انحرافی|Jarīān-e Enherāfī) is a term used by Iranian officials (e.g. high-ranking clerics, Revolutionary Guards commanders)[1] and conservative rivals[1] of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to describe Ahmadinejad's entourage, which functions like a faction or party. Ahmadinejad had some tendency toward Iranian nationalism that deviated from the clerics' theocratic rule, hence top clerics labeled the faction associated with him as "deviant current".[2]

The term was coined in 2011, after an open conflict between Ahmadinejad and the Supreme leader Ali Khamenei.[3] [4]

People

People who have been described as associated with the "deviant current" include:

Ideology

The faction is described as "nationalist conservative" by Stratfor; also described as "neo-conservative nationalists" by Pejman Abdolmohammadi, assistant professor in Middle Eastern studies at University of Trento and Giampiero Cama, professor of comparative politics at University of Genova.[5] According to Bernd Kaussler, assistant professor of political science at James Madison University, their ideology is a combination of millenarian, nationalist, populist and the principlist rhetoric. The tendency tries to nationalize Shiite Islamism, and advocates an “Iranian School of Islam” that seems antagonistic toward the Velayat Faqih, an idea that formed the basis of the current establishment in Iran. Ahmadinejad and his associates have regularly used the word "spring" and the phrase "Long live the spring" as a slogan, which is believed to have connotations for the Arab Spring, although Ahmadinejad claims it refers to the reappearance of Imam Mahdi.

Organization

See also: Coalition of the Pleasant Scent of Servitude, Monotheism and Justice Front, Supporters of Justice Discourse of Islamic Revolution and YEKTA Front. A group is active under the acronym HOMA (standing for Havadarn-e Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Persian, meaning "Supporters of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad") and published an online newspaper with the same name. The public relations team organizes various websites, including, and Meydan-e Haftadodo (named after the neighborhood Ahmadinejad lives in) among others. They maintain online activity elsewhere, running many blogs and social media accounts.

Electoral performance

2012

Monotheism and Justice Front, a group that endorsed a list of candidates for 2012 parliamentary elections is reportedly linked to Mashaei. The results showed a major defeat for them in the elections, and they only won 9 seats, according to Deutsche Welle.

2013

In a Medvedev/Putin-style scenario, Mashaei ran for president in 2013 presidential election backed by Ahmadinejad, who said "Mashaei means Ahmadinejad and Ahmadinejad means Mashaei". He was disqualified by the Guardian Council.

2013 local elections were the next defeat. The faction were unable to secure a seat in Tehran City Council and even Parvin, Ahmadinejad's sister was unseated.[6]

2017

In 2017 presidential election, Ahmdinejad who backed Hamid Baghaei, registered as a candidate along with him, but both were disqualified.[7]

2020

Candidates associated with the circle ran on a list for 2020 parliamentary elections, although Ahmadinejad himself did not support any specific list.[8] Middle East Research and Information Project stated that they won 14 seats in the first round of elections.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Elling, Ramus Christian. Nabavi, Negin. Iran: From Theocracy to the Green Movement. Matters of Authenticity. 2012. Springer. 94. 9780230114692.
  2. Book: Torbat . Akbar E. . Politics of Oil and Nuclear Technology in Iran . 2020 . . Cham, Switzerland . 978-3-030-33765-0 . 258–259.
  3. Book: Alem, Yasmin. Brumberg, Daniel . Farhi, Farideh . Power and Change in Iran: Politics of Contention and Conciliation. Electoral Politics, Power, and Prospects for Reform. 2016. Indiana University Press. Indiana Series in Middle East Studies. 177. 9780253020796.
  4. Book: Ehteshami, Anoushiravan. Iran: Stuck in Transition. Politics of the Islamic Republic. 2017. Taylor & Francis. The Contemporary Middle East. 90. 9781351985451.
  5. Book: Abdolmohammadi . Pejman . Cama . Giampiero . Contemporary Domestic and Foreign Policies of Iran . 2020 . . Cham, Switzerland . 978-3-030-45335-0 . 137–138.
  6. Web site: Reformists return to power in Iran's local elections. Asharq Al Awsat. 1 April 2017. 20 June 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103239/http://english.aawsat.com/2013/06/article55306487. 4 March 2016.
  7. News: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 'disqualified' from Iran elections. 20 April 2017. Al Jazeera. 20 April 2017.
  8. News: Iran Parliamentary Election Explained: who is Competing, why Does it Matter?. 17 February 2020. Radio Zamaneh. 17 February 2020.