Iran's President under attack from all sides
(Baonghean.vn) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani holds power, but is facing attacks from all sides, including conservatives, reformists and the people, as he prepares to answer questions before the National Assembly tomorrow, August 28.
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| Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Photo: AP |
President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and Washington’s reimposition of sanctions on the Islamic Republic have left Iran’s economy in a tailspin, a series of moves that critics say expose the failures of President Rouhani’s five years in power.
For the first time, Iranian lawmakers have asked President Rouhani to answer questions in parliament about the country's situation, including a sharp decline in the value of the national currency, rising unemployment and corruption.
Lawmakers have the power to impeach Mr Rouhani, although Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said Mr Rouhani should complete his term in office until 2021. Many hardline opponents have opposed Mr Rouhani's negotiations with the West.
“The best outcome for them is a weakened president, which would increase their chances in the 2021 election,” said political analyst Fereshteh Sadeghi.
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| Supreme Leader Khamenei supports President Rouhani to the end of his second term because he wants stability. Photo: Getty |
Referring to the reformists, researcher Clement Therme of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) commented: “No one believes that President Rouhani will reform anything. He is just a tool of the system, appearing to address the people's demands for change, but actually changing nothing.”
Meanwhile, for Iranians, many wealthy people are trying to leave the country, while poorer areas are witnessing frequent, sometimes violent, protests. Prices for basic goods are rising rapidly, and the situation will get worse when US sanctions on Iran’s vital oil sector take effect in November.
Expert Therme commented that President Rouhani's problem reflects the fundamental contradiction of the Islamic Republic: elections are in accordance with the law, but the Iranian people who support reform do not get what they want.
“Supreme Leader Khamenei supports President Rouhani to the end of his second term because he wants stability. However, he thinks that if President Rouhani implements his policies, it will mean the end of the current system,” Mr. Therme said, referring to opening the country to Western culture.
