Rafsanjani Pulls a Rafsanjani

After appearing to call for greater support of Khamenei at a meeting of the Expediency Council, Rafsanjani now makes it clear that he supports Karroubi for speaking out on prison rape.

His political party put out a statement in which they praise Karroubi in the face of hardliner threats of arrest. Basically Rafsanjani is trying to play both sides and appear to have one foot somewhat in each camp. After his statement in support Khamenei, Rafsanjani got much critcism from the reformists and so this statement in support of Karroubi maybe a way of showing the reformists he is still with them. Here is what Rafsanjani's political party said,

"Karroubi’s bravery, courage, and his compassionate approach in rooting out the current corruption in the country’s security and judicial apparatuses, is not only worthy of attention and congratulations, but has brought about an invasion of repeated attacks by various people and groups in the name of ‘defending the system.’ These behaviors serve as evidence of the ridiculousness of trying to combat reality.”