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Iran’s clerical regime is mired in a fierce internal power struggle as economic turmoil and public dissatisfaction reach unprecedented levels. Parliamentary factions are locked in a bitter blame game, using impeachment threats against key ministers in the regime’s president Masoud Pezeshkian’s cabinet to shield themselves from accountability. Meanwhile, the Iranian people bear the brunt of skyrocketing inflation, a collapsing currency, and worsening living conditions.
Impeachment as a Political Weapon
The regime’s economic crisis has fueled calls for the impeachment of multiple ministers. Parliament has already initiated proceedings against Abdolnasser Hemmati, the finance minister, with over 70 MPs signing the motion. Ministers of oil and labor are also under fire for their perceived failures in handling the country’s worsening fuel shortages and unemployment.
What Has #Iranian Regime’s War Economy Produced?https://t.co/wsEpMFiVVi
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 20, 2024
Lotfollah Siahkali, a former MP, sounded the alarm on the regime’s economic mismanagement. “If the dollar reaches 90,000 tomans, economic collapse will be inevitable,” he warned. “People have no reserves left to withstand another wave of inflation. The situation is dangerous.”
Power outages and energy shortages have compounded the crisis. Ali-Akbar Alvandian, secretary of the Cement Industry Association, revealed that 30 out of 100 active cement kilns have shut down due to fuel and electricity shortages. “This is not just about cement; the industrial sector is collapsing,” he said.
Blame and Division in Parliament
Infighting within the regime has reached a fever pitch, with MPs openly accusing each other of dereliction of duty. During a heated session, Mohammad Sabbaghian, an MP critical of the parliamentary leadership, lashed out at Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. “You’re a dictator—yes, a dictator!” Sabbaghian exclaimed before his microphone was abruptly cut off. “What do we tell the people in the streets and alleys? They are being destroyed.”
Jafar Qaderi, an MP from Shiraz, criticized the government for its perceived lack of cooperation with parliament. “When the government talks about unity but acts differently, MPs become frustrated and seek impeachment,” he said, underscoring the political motivations behind these moves.
Hossein Nushabadi, a regime loyalist, dismissed the impeachment efforts as counterproductive. “Piling pressure on the government will only add to public anxiety,” he said. However, many MPs remain determined to press ahead, using impeachment as a tool to deflect blame for the regime’s failures.
Watch and judge how #Iran's economy is run by the regime pic.twitter.com/k2QtOj9KqS
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 17, 2023
In a sharp exchange during parliamentary debates, regime MP Mohammadreza Ahmadi responded to President Masoud Pezeshkian’s criticism of rival factions allegedly attempting to impose unqualified managers on his administration. Ahmadi retorted, “Mr. Pezeshkian, be careful not to say anything that would make the enemies of this system and the hypocrites happy.”
Hypocrites is a derogatory term used by the regime to refer to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, aimed at discrediting the opposition group in Iranian society.
Parliamentary Chaos and Public Despair
The state-run media have also highlighted the dysfunction within the regime. The Ham-Mihan newspaper, aligned with Pezeshkian’s allies, accused parliamentarians of pursuing “distractions” instead of addressing systemic crises. “Parliament has failed to provide even a few months of political stability after approving the ministers,” it wrote. “The tool of impeachment is being misused to intimidate the government and waste time.”
Meanwhile, public discontent continues to grow. With inflation and unemployment surging, more professionals, including doctors and pharmacists, are leaving the country. Mojtaba Burbur, a spokesperson for the Pharmaceutical Importers’ Association, highlighted the exodus. “Pharmacists can no longer sustain themselves with current wages,” he said. “They’re choosing to leave, and other countries are eagerly recruiting them.”
Watch and judge why the regime's Supreme Leader #Khamenei is pushing to privatize #Iran's economy and sell off public property pic.twitter.com/v4wyebhFCO
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 11, 2023
In another blow to public morale, fuel prices are set to soar further. Emad Rafiei, an advisor to the oil ministry, announced that imported super gasoline will cost 40,000 to 50,000 tomans per liter, exacerbating economic pressures on ordinary citizens.
No Relief in Sight
While the regime’s factions battle for control, their focus remains on consolidating power rather than alleviating the people’s suffering. Meanwhile, parliamentary actions such as impeachment appear more aimed at scoring political points than resolving the systemic issues plaguing the country.
As Siahkali grimly observed, “Economic collapse is no longer a warning—it’s becoming a reality.” For the Iranian people, caught between a failing economy and a regime consumed by infighting, the situation grows increasingly untenable, pushing them toward the inevitable uprising and regime change.

