Iran’s faltering regime is preparing for parliamentary elections on February 21st while protests still rage in cities across the country. The dissatisfaction with the ruling regime has now spread to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei himself, as the leaders of various factions argue over the future of Iran in the face of widespread unrest and growing international isolation.

As time goes on, the Iranian regime is finding itself more and more isolated from the rest of the region and from the rest of the world. No matter what the Iranian regime does, it cannot seem to move forward without coming up against another obstacle.

Regime President Hassan Rouhani has hit back at his critics within the regime. In a speech that was broadcast from the state media, he blasted his political rivals on Saturday evening at a meeting with reporters from state-run media, calling them “traitors” and escalating the internal disputes within the regime.

The Supreme Leaders Rebuff

Rouhani’s comments came after the regime Supreme Leader Khamenei turned down his requests for more power and authority. In the wake of tighter US economic sanctions, Rouhani argued that “the country needs an agenda and a commander.”

#Iran Infighting Shows Weakness and Fear of Mullahshttps://t.co/8uNEImTlnM pic.twitter.com/terHcfgxvT

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 3, 2019

“The fact that Iran’s ship could not dock in foreign ports for 10 days to unload is unprecedented in our history,” he said.

Rouhani believed he could be that commander and implored the Supreme Leader to amend the constitution to grant him more power. His requests were met with resistance. Khamenei insisted that there is nothing wrong with the existing constitution. He said that if Iran has problems it stemmed from “our officials.”

Squabbling Over 2015

In an unprecedented escalation of infighting between various rifts within the regime for more power, Rouhani in his rebuttal, protested recent remarks from the Supreme Leader putting the blame for the failed 2015 nuclear deal with the P5+1 squarely on his shoulders. He reminded Khamenei that in 2004, the Supreme Leader had agreed to hold a public referendum to decide if the regime should enter negotiations with the international community.

“I asked the Supreme Leader to place the nuclear issue before the people based on Article 59 of the constitution. I explained and even sent a written letter to him, in addition to expressing my thoughts in person. He considered the reference to this article as a positive measure and agreed. However, there was no mentioning of when this [referendum] would be carried out,” Rouhani complained.

A Vulnerable Regime

The regime appears more vulnerable than ever. Internal rifts have widened in the run-up to the Majlis elections (the Iranian parliament). Many in the regime are concerned that the public’s increasing impatience and distrust of the government will harm regime-affiliates in the upcoming elections.

Some voices would like to see public dissent and opposition crushed further to avoid the loss of votes. “If this is true it would be the biggest act of treason against the Iranian nation and history,” Rouhani said.

Infighting Within the #Iran Regime Factions Escalates, After the U.S. Senate New Sanctions. https://t.co/TkglNKsRbh pic.twitter.com/dwjDFzyFM4

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 19, 2017

Hossein Maghsoudi, a member of the Majlis, called the pro-Rouhani camp, “an enemy larger than America.” He suggested that Rouhani and his acolytes were gunning for a war with the US to further expand the presidential powers and plunder the country.

Another member named Hossein Ali Shahriari suggested that Rouhani’s tenure as president had engulfed the country in “corruption, bribes, injustice, and discrimination.”

Rouhani and his allies have attacked the media, questioning why they won’t disseminate his propaganda claims that his administration is supplying natural gas to ten new villages a day and providing clean water to 30 new villages each month. “You should publish the government’s successes,” he said.

Safeguarding the Regime

The only thing all factions have in common is their pursuit to save the regime at all costs. Rouhani has made it clear that he will do whatever it takes to maintain the mullahs’ grip on power. He will kill as many political opponents as it takes, run roughshod over Iranian human rights, plunder the country’s wealth and resources and watch as Iranians get increasingly poorer and more desperate.

“People may have lesser to eat at nights and live in hardships. In my opinion, this is not important. This is not our priority,” he said.

This demonstrates that under the existing regime, Iranians will not find their fate improved. They will continue to suffer at the hand of the mullahs.

Staff writer

Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, attempted to stifle factional infighting in his Assembly of Experts on Thursday, March 14. The ailing leader of Iran’s clerical regime told his Assembly to “not be at each other’s throats over this or that convention or agreement.”

His comments come after the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international agency committed to fighting money-laundering and corruption, asked the regime to improve its legislation to meet international financial standards. The request has divided the regime’s leadership, with one faction pushing for the regime to implement the FATF’s recommendations and the other pushing to leave financial laws unchanged.

In his address, Khamenei said the two sides, “should not accuse each other of accompaniment with the enemy.”

A Regime Tearing at the Seams

The debacle over the FATF’s recommendations has come in the wake of more public infighting amongst the upper-echelons of the regime. Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, offered up his resignation last month over deep divisions and infighting over foreign policy. Although Regime President Hassan Rouhani did not accept the resignation and Zarif remains in his position, the incident showed a regime battling internal division and tearing at the seams of leadership.

Those That Oppose You are not Your Enemy

In his remarks, Khamenei reminded his Assembly of Experts on several occasions to bear in mind that just because some in the regime do not share your opinion, does not mean they support your enemies. He warned of labeling people of “supporting the enemies.”

However contradicting himself, he reiterated that anyone questioning Iran’s role in the Middle East and its foreign policy objectives were, in fact, “helping the enemy,” adding that, “the enemy” fears Iran in the region.

In her speech addressing members of the British Parliamentary group for Iran freedom, Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the Iranian opposition said:

“The mullahs ruling Iran are currently more fragile and weaker than any other time in the past three decades. The deepening economic crisis, mounting infightings, the crisis in the region, growing popular discontent and increasing resistance by people has brought the regime closer to its downfall.”

Staff Writer

A wave of impeachments is overtaking the Iranian regime’s parliament, as tensions among the regime leadership have reached a boiling point.

Minister of Work Ali Rabi-ee was dismissed three weeks ago. The Ministers of Industry and Education are set to be impeached on September 11th. Cabinet Minister Masoud Karbasian is going to be sacked by next month.

On August 28th, President Hassan Rouhani was summoned to Parliament to answer questions about Iran’s economy. Rouhani admitting the Iranian people’s discontent towards the regime said: “Economic issues are of determinative nature. However, what’s more important now is that many people have lost their faith in the future of our Islamic Republic and are doubting its power.” Rouhani’s visit to Parliament came after months of squabbling and power plays between parties.

A report on how #Iran's regime is suffering following the grilling of mullahs' President Hassan Rouhani in the Majlis (parliament).https://t.co/8OmPvFhCKU

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 4, 2018

Government officials in trying to put the blame on others have become increasingly willing to acknowledge that Iran’s problems stem from decades of corruption and mismanagement by the mullahs and not from the sanctions by the United States.

Member of Parliament Qasem Mirzaei Nikou said: “The fraudulent ways of money-making runs in all branches of the government. Their corruption is endless, much like a seven-headed dragon.”

The reality is that the impeachments will not solve Iran’s economic problems because the system is rotten to its core. Iranian regime’s economic policy is not based on the rule of law; it is based on greed and corruption. Even MPs agree that replacing the cabinet will not solve these problems.

Exclusive to #PMOI/#MEK, April 26, 2018 – As the world prepares to mark International Labor Day; the real situation inside Iran has unfortunately gone gravely neglected. Poverty is spreading at an alarming rate and the #IranUprising sounded alarm bells for the ruling regime.#Iran pic.twitter.com/msekg1wqLz

— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) April 26, 2018

On August 26th, Elias Hazrati another regime MP, commented on this issue: “We are in the month of August now. Sanctions won’t start until November, and its consequences won’t be revealed any earlier than the next 6 to 12 months. So, the current inflation of 19%, which is expected to go up to 40% by the end of the year, has clearly nothing to do with the United States”.”

Henchman, Mohammad Reza Badamchi another member of regime’s parliament, added: “In today’s society, one out of every six people is unemployed. In other words, close to 20 million of our youth, aged between 15 to 29 years old, have no jobs now.”

The cabinet, of course, only controls 50% of Iran’s economy. The other half is held by the Supreme Leader and the organizations under his power, primary the Revolutionary Guards and its affiliates.

Mahmoud Bahmani, another regime MP and the former head of the Central Bank, revealed last month: “A 2-year-worth of currency, accumulated from our exports, haven’t been returned to our country just yet. The bank accounts of the officials’ families are worth more than our currency held overseas. In March 2013, the liquidity rate was 435 thousand billion Toman, whereas today, it is more than 700 thousand billion Toman.”

#BREAKING
Tehran, #Iran
A man set's himself ablaze outside the city municipality office, most likely due to poverty & unemployment. pic.twitter.com/j2tfaOg6d9

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 4, 2018

Given the dire economic situation in Iran and the failure of regime officials to find effective solutions to address it, the Iranian people have grown more and more angry at the entire regime. Economic issues were the initial spark that led to the massive uprising that began in December of last year and continues today. People from all walks to life have taken to the streets, chanting, “Death to Khamenei!”

Khamenei you should be ashamed of yourself!”

Reformists, Hardliners, Game is Over!”

It has become clear that the people of Iran are tired of claims of reform. They are ready for regime change. Increasingly, protesters have looked toward the Iranian Resistance and the MEK for a viable alternative to the mullahs’ regime.

The regime faces many obstacles right now, but the largest and most insurmountable is the ongoing uprising taking place in the streets of Iran. The regime has been unable to suppress the protests, and it has been unable to kill off the opposition movement, despite attempted multiple terrorist attacks on the MEK this year.

Rouhani himself acknowledged the power of the protesters in a statement this year: “How did our country’s atmosphere suddenly change? It changed from December 26th, 2017; anyone who claims otherwise is only misleading people, in my opinion.”

The regime is fearful of its people because it knows the end is near. Overthrow is inevitable because the problems within the regime cannot be fixed. The people are angry, and the protesters cannot be suppressed. The regime should be afraid.

Staff Writer