Iran International
Pressure on President Masoud Pezeshkian’s government continues to mount despite explicit support from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who this week praised the president and his cabinet during a meeting in Tehran.
The latest move against Pezeshkian involves his labor minister Ahmad Maydari, whom hardline lawmakers seek to impeach despite the apparent reservations of the parliament’s presidium.
“The Majles will take no decisions without coordination with the pillars of the political system,” Abbas Goudarzi, a presidium spokesperson, told Tasnim News on Tuesday following a closed-door parliament session attended by Pezeshkian and his ministers.
The pillar of the system is widely understood to be a reference to Khamenei’s office.
That remark may reflect Khamenei’s own position, who has voiced frustration with repeated public attacks on the government, arguing that constant criticism only weakens the state.
At a Sunday meeting with the cabinet, he coupled that warning with unusually warm praise for Pezeshkian and Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, even though he stopped short of citing tangible achievements.
Maydari, however, remains a prime target. Hardliners have pressed for his removal for more than a year, citing the Labor Ministry’s failure to address strikes and protests by workers and pensioners.
Pezeshkian has resisted dismissals, arguing that “replacing individuals will solve no problem.” Still, Maydari has become emblematic of government shortcomings as economic grievances mount.
Goudarzi also revealed that impeachment motions are underway against two other ministers.
While he did not name them, outlets including Eghtesad Online have reported that Roads Minister Fereshteh Sadeq faces allegations of abusing her position for personal gain, while Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi is under fire for blackouts and water shortages.
While MPs cite valid technical grounds, the impeachment drive reflects a deeper struggle inside Iran’s political system.
Much ado about power
Since the 1990s, hardliners have used parliamentary oversight to chip away at governments they view as unreliable. Pezeshkian’s weak political base and difficulty recruiting top technocrats have left him particularly exposed.
Despite Khamenei’s backing, the campaign against the government appears to be widening.
In recent days, hardline outlets have called for former President Hassan Rouhani to face trial for advocating change, while former foreign minister Javad Zarif has come under fire for suggesting dialogue with the United States.
For now, Khamenei’s intervention has shielded the government from collapse. But the impeachment moves reveal how hardliners are pressing their advantage, testing whether even the Supreme Leader’s explicit support can restrain them.
