This struggle, while internal, has become a public spectacle, highlighting deep divisions within the regime. Mehdi Chamran, President of Tehran’s City Council, recently addressed rumors regarding Mayor Alireza Zakani’s potential dismissal. Chamran asserted, “If council members were in favor of Zakani’s removal, they would have agreed to his departure. Since they haven’t, it means they are not in favor.” He stressed that Zakani should continue his duties, adding, “Zakani’s departure in the final year of the council’s term is meaningless.”
Chamran also accused detractors of attempting to undermine significant projects completed during the council’s term. Despite these claims, a petition campaign for Zakani’s dismissal, approaching 200,000 signatures, indicates growing public dissatisfaction. Environmentalists, civil activists, and urban specialists have criticized Zakani for his urban development policies, including allegations of tree felling, ambiguous contracts with China, park constructions, and nepotistic appointments.
In response to these pressures, Zakani has launched a counter-campaign, rallying supporters within the council, such as influential members Parviz Sarvari and Mehdi Chamran, who have defended him. Chamran dismissed the criticisms as “side issues” that should be avoided to prevent the council’s dissolution, reminiscent of the fate of the first council.
State media reports suggest that some council members might collectively resign to force Zakani’s removal. Zakani, who once envisioned himself as a future presidential candidate, now clings to his mayoral position through various tactics, including showcasing his purported achievements in transportation and social welfare during a recent government session.
#Iran News:
Power Struggle Intensifies Over #Tehran Mayoral Seat Amid Allegations of Corruptionhttps://t.co/xCRvBK0AuF— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 16, 2024
The state-affiliated newspaper Ham-Mihan, linked to Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Khamenei, has opined that Zakani should resign respectfully. The threat of mass resignation by ten council members, citing Zakani’s numerous warnings over the past three years, has pushed the council to the brink of dissolution.
Notably, Narges Soleimani, daughter of slain IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, has been a vocal critic, stating, “The city was better managed without senior managers,” a pointed jab at Zakani’s administration. Mehdi Eghrarian, another council member, suggested that discussions about Zakani’s replacement were already underway, mentioning that both a council member and a cabinet member of President Raisi were considered potential replacements.
Eghrarian also criticized Zakani’s three-year tenure, citing significant missteps. Public discontent has grown due to actions such as constructing mosques in parks, intentionally drying trees, and dismantling bike paths, which have angered Tehran residents.
Who is Alireza Zakani, Corrupt Militiaman Turned #Tehran Mayorhttps://t.co/otCy10wxTe
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 13, 2024
Amidst these tensions, some council members have attempted indirect negotiations with Zakani to persuade him to resign, thus avoiding the formalities and potential fallout of impeachment. According to Etemad Online, council member Naser Amani acknowledged the public campaign for Zakani’s removal, stating, “We respect the campaign from parts of Tehran’s community that calls for Zakani’s removal.”
Zakani has dismissed the petition and the council’s ongoing sessions as “illegal,” calling the allegations “100 percent false.” He argued that the council has a minority faction that expresses opposing views. His critics, including former allies of Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, see the petition as a political opportunity, accusing Zakani of corruption and incompetence, citing his controversial urban policies and alleged favoritism.
In a council session, Naser Amani exposed widespread corruption within Tehran’s municipality, stating, “My knowledge of Zakani’s anti-corruption efforts is extensive, but unfortunately, it is in reverse. In Tehran’s municipality, contrary to Zakani’s claims, only the weak are targeted, not the big offenders.”
As factions vie for control, the future of Mayor Alireza Zakani and the city council remains uncertain. The unfolding infighting continues to captivate public and political attention, reflecting broader governance issues and corruption within the regime. As Mehdi Chamran noted, “Zakani’s departure in the final year of the council’s term is meaningless.” Yet, public outcry suggests otherwise.
MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu
