Two-minute read
Following the contentious presidential election held to replace the slain regime president Ebrahim Raisi, internal power struggles and public infighting within the clerical dictatorship have escalated dramatically. The election, widely regarded as a sham, has exacerbated tensions among rival factions, leading to a series of public denunciations and strategic maneuvers.
The IRGC-affiliated newspaper, Javan, launched a scathing attack on newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is aligned with a rival faction. The newspaper mocked Pezeshkian and his associates, stating, “You hold the lowest vote count for a president in the country; 74% of the nation said ‘no’ to you. You begged, created fear, and distanced yourself from the state with slogans like ‘For Iran,’ but still, you were ignored!”
Mohammad Reza Aref, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, implicitly criticized Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by acknowledging the widespread boycott of the election, stating, “The people thwarted the plan for consolidation and purification.”
Former minister Mostafa Hashemitaba questioned the legitimacy of Saeed Jalili’s so-called “shadow government,” sarcastically asking, “Who authorized Saeed Jalili to form a shadow government? This term is laughable. From whom did he receive this mandate? Did the Supreme Leader appoint him as the shadow government?”
Javad Emam, a spokesperson for a self-proclaimed reformist faction, warned against parliamentary interference in the new administration’s foreign policy, stating, “Parliament should not obstruct the new government’s foreign policy. They have already begun showing teeth for Pezeshkian!”
#MasoudPezeshkian: A Hardliner in Reformist Clothinghttps://t.co/95Nu2jwXiK
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 13, 2024
Social media users inside Iran have exposed last-minute appointments by Raisi’s ministers, revealing rampant nepotism. According to these sources, Mehdi Esmaeili, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, was found to have appointed his brother-in-law as a cultural advisor, his wife’s brother as a senior consultant and representative at the Islamic Culture and Communication Organization, his cousin as the head of the ministry’s security, and recently, his son-in-law’s father as a cultural advisor.
Bijan Zanganeh, the former Oil Minister, publicly criticized factions close to Khamenei, revealing corruption within the regime. Zanganeh said, “They accused me of selling gas without parliamentary approval. I responded that they had done it even more than I did!” He added, “They planned to prosecute me for this alleged illegal gas sale, but made deals with their own ‘oil-selling’ traffickers to confess to their corruption, paving the way for my prosecution, only to rehabilitate them later.”
Gholamali Jafarzadeh Imanabadi, a former member of parliament, admitted on social media platform X that the power struggles have intensified since the election, reporting numerous resignations among Raisi’s government officials. He wrote, “Raisi’s crony managers are resigning one after another, leaving their posts without higher approval, causing confusion among personnel and the public. Legal action should be taken against these irresponsible individuals to ensure government functions are not stalled.”
In a televised address to provincial governors, Acting President Mohammad Mokhber acknowledged the disarray within government departments, urging immediate action. He stated, “If any manager in the province is lax, remove them, even at the last moment. If a department head has abandoned their duties, do not tolerate it.”