Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian’s recent trip to New York for the UN General Assembly has triggered significant internal tensions, with political and media figures within the regime launching sharp criticisms against him and his associates.
In a September 24 editorial titled “Mr. Pezeshkian, Beware of This Conspiracy!”, Shariatmadari warned of an alleged plot against Pezeshkian during his visit to the U.S. He accused a group with a questionable background of encouraging Pezeshkian to take an anti-Iranian stance and humiliate himself before American authorities. The following day, Shariatmadari further criticized Pezeshkian’s statements during the trip, claiming the president’s remarks demonstrated a lack of political knowledge and understanding.
He attributed Pezeshkian’s perceived missteps to the influence of pro-Western advisors surrounding him, some of whom, according to Shariatmadari, had questionable backgrounds, including security convictions. He urged Pezeshkian to distance himself from these advisors, specifically those associated with the 2009 protests and the 2022 demonstrations.
These criticisms were echoed by Mashregh News, a website linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization. The site went a step further, issuing a veiled threat to Pezeshkian and his team, insinuating that he could face a similar fate to former President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr, who was ousted from office in 1981.
Hossein Shariatmadari, a key figure closely aligned with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and editor of Kayhan newspaper, was particularly vocal in his opposition.
Meanwhile, Javan newspaper, another IRGC-affiliated outlet, joined the chorus of attacks. In a piece titled “A Weak Trip,” published on September 25, the paper ridiculed Pezeshkian’s lack of political finesse, mocking his performance during the UN visit.
The criticism extended to Pezeshkian’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, and his team, specifically their handling of Iran’s nuclear deal negotiations, known as the JCPOA. Javan accused the team of failing diplomatically, highlighting their apparent inability to deliver any substantial results during their extended stay in New York.
The article suggested that a conspiracy involving members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) was at play, aiming to create unrest and weaken Pezeshkian’s government to the point where he would not last through winter in office.
The discontent within the regime reflects broader concerns about internal instability, as Pezeshkian’s actions, even when viewed as insignificant, seem to intensify the growing divisions within Iran’s power structure. This political turmoil reveals the fragile state of the Iranian regime, as even minor missteps by Pezeshkian appear to threaten its internal cohesion.
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