Three-minute read
The clerical regime in Iran is witnessing deepening fractures as rival factions battle over political control, economic policy, and survival amid mounting crises. In the months since the inception of Masoud Pezeshkian’s presidency, early disputes revolved around Mohammad Javad Zarif’s role as deputy president and his influence over foreign policy. However, with Iran’s economic collapse growing more perilous, factions close to the regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have now turned their focus to Abdolnaser Hemmati, Pezeshkian’s Economy Minister, attempting to scapegoat him for the regime’s failures.
In recent weeks, the regime’s parliament has initiated impeachment proceedings against Hemmati, citing his failure to address the nation’s economic challenges, including the rial’s significant depreciation. The motion has garnered substantial support, with 91 out of 290 lawmakers signing the petition, surpassing the minimum requirement of 10 signatures. Under the regime’s law, Hemmati is obligated to appear before the legislature within 10 days to defend his record, in a session that could lead to his removal.
A Political Purge Disguised as Reform
The battle over Hemmati’s impeachment has thrown the regime’s internal struggles into full public view. Recent parliamentary sessions have descended into chaos, with accusations of bribery, coercion, and corruption among lawmakers. Mutually exclusive claims have emerged—some insisting that MPs have been bribed to withdraw the impeachment request, while others accuse the government of manipulating the process to protect Hemmati.
MPs Move to Oust Economy Minister, Central Bank Chief Amid #Iran's Economic Struggleshttps://t.co/j9xdAkE9UB
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) February 12, 2025
During a fiery session, MP Mojtaba Zarei openly condemned what he described as a double standard in the Majlis (parliament), highlighting the divisions between those who accept bribes and those who refuse them. Allegations surfaced that lawmakers were taken to hotels and given financial incentives to drop their impeachment bid—a claim that underscores the deep-seated corruption pervading the system.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Parliament, attempted to quell the growing dissent, urging MPs not to undermine the legislature’s credibility. However, the session rapidly spiraled into a shouting match, with MPs accusing each other of weakening the regime by either resisting or supporting Hemmati’s removal.
Pezeshkian Fights Back
As impeachment efforts gain traction, Pezeshkian has pushed back, warning that Hemmati’s removal will only worsen economic instability. He blamed the very discussion of impeachment for fueling market volatility, emphasizing that changing individuals will not solve structural problems.
“There is no magic solution in removing one person,” Pezeshkian declared, arguing that the regime has long relied on reshuffling ministers rather than implementing meaningful reforms. His remarks suggest that he views Hemmati’s impeachment as a political maneuver rather than an economic necessity.
#Iran's Regime Infighting Escalates Amid #Economic Crisis and International Tensionshttps://t.co/QaeyKbnTc7
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) February 19, 2025
But Pezeshkian’s opposition to impeachment has done little to slow the momentum of extremist factions determined to assert their dominance. If anything, it has underscored his vulnerability—a president struggling to hold his ground against a parliament emboldened by Khamenei’s supporters, particularly those affiliated with Saeed Jalili and the Paydari Front.
Khamenei Undermined by His Own Faction
Even as Ali Khamenei attempts to maintain an image of unity and back Pezeshkian’s government, Paydari Front MPs are actively undermining his position. The crisis over Hemmati reflects a larger weakness within Khamenei’s leadership: he can no longer maintain control over the very faction that once upheld his absolute authority.
State media outlets have openly criticized Pezeshkian’s defense of Hemmati. Kayhan newspaper, a staunch mouthpiece of the Supreme Leader, questioned Pezeshkian’s reasoning, arguing on February 25: “If changing people does not solve problems, why did Pezeshkian appoint a new minister in the first place?”
Meanwhile, the fundamental crisis persists: Iran’s economy is on the brink of collapse, inflation is skyrocketing, and public discontent is reaching explosive levels. The regime desperately needs a scapegoat, and Hemmati appears to be the next prey of its internal purge.
Zarif's Davos Remarks Ignite Infighting Within #Iran's Regime Over US Negotiationshttps://t.co/zyfEGr3lKu
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 26, 2025
A Fragile Regime
The intensifying power struggle in Tehran reflects the regime’s existential crisis. With the opposition emboldened inside and outside the country, and factions within the regime tearing each other apart, the clerical establishment is showing signs of unprecedented fragility.
What was once a dispute over Zarif’s role in foreign affairs has now turned into a full-blown internal power war, where economic collapse is no longer just a problem for the people—it is a threat to the survival of the regime itself.
The question now is not whether Hemmati will survive impeachment, but how long the regime can withstand its own self-inflicted destruction.