The internal discord, initially perceived as growing pains of consolidation, now threatens the very fabric of Khamenei’s leadership. A year into Ebrahim Raisi’s presidency, the state-run Khabar Online critically described the situation: “Absolute Rule: A Challenged Dream”. The article highlights widespread dissatisfaction, even among staunch supporters, over the prevailing inefficiencies in governance and mounting challenges in daily living.
Today, Raisi’s government faces continuous battles with a parliament under Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s leadership. Rifts are evident as the Judiciary threatens parliamentary members, and Raisi himself sends grievance letters to Khamenei, seeking guidance.
The Ebtekar newspaper recently observed that the government’s bills undergo substantial revisions in the parliament, often against the wishes of Raisi’s administration. This was evident when Raisi voiced concerns over modifications to the Seventh Development Plan bill, arguing that it would financially hamstring the government.
#Iranian state officials warn about low morale among the ranks of the regime. Watch and judge if this is indicative of a defection crisis amid #IranRevolution2022 pic.twitter.com/U6TJS5QrqO
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 27, 2022
Even meetings of the regime’s top three branches, designed to establish unity, are failing to mitigate the crisis. Khamenei’s calls for cohesion among the branches seemingly go unheard.
Budgetary challenges further strain relations. The official newspaper, Iran, squarely attributes the budget deficit to the parliament’s miscalculated oil revenue predictions. State-affiliated Ruydad24 countered by disputing the government’s claimed success in oil sales. This was corroborated by Etemad Newspaper, which revealed a 258 trillion tomans deficit by June.
The Raisi administration’s struggles extend beyond political infighting. The common Iranian faces a grim socio-economic landscape. State-affiliated economist, Vahid Shaghayeghi Shahri, warns of worsening living standards, fueled by tax hikes. Alarmingly, under Raisi, Iran has sunk to the 160th position in the global Fraser Economic Freedom Index, a ranking shared with nations like Venezuela, Syria, and Zimbabwe.
The #Iranian regime's power consolidation plan crumbles under the weight of its own shortcomings.https://t.co/ErwiobZpJO
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 27, 2023
Yahya Ebrahimi, from the Parliamentary Commission on Health and Treatment and a Raisi supporter, highlighted the significant medicine shortages. He candidly stated the administration’s transparency issues, emphasizing the government’s reliance on deceiving its populace, a tactic increasingly transparent to its people.
A deep dive into Iran’s intricate socio-political quagmire uncovers an underlying dread within its clerical regime: a potential revolution. Their increasing attempts to divert these internal crises outward, stoking regional tensions, appear more out of desperation than dominance. With the nation’s turmoil laid bare, one truth emerges: the transformation Iran craves must be ignited from within.
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
