Iranian officials on Tuesday urged the Parliament and judiciary to support the government of President Masoud Pezeshkian, based on the recommendation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The support, expressed by officials close to Khamenei’s circle, came while the US ratcheted up pressure on Tehran to negotiate on its nuclear weapons.
Last Saturday, Khamenei firmly rejected the possibility of talks with Washington under pressure.
He urged all Iranian regime officials at various levels to act in solidarity to solve the country’s economic problems and improve the lives of Iranians, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
IRNA said Khamenei explained how to improve the economic situation by trying to offer solutions not related to the sanctions imposed on his country.
In his speech, the Supreme Leader demanded currency system reforms, increased investment in domestic industries, and stronger action against smuggling to stabilize the economy.
The motive behind the call for Iran’s branches of government to collaborate remains unclear, but it came after the resignation of Iranian Vice President for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Therefore, supporting Pezeshkian’s government may be a political necessity for the conservative wing in Iran. Iranian officials feel that the President has lost his most important source of power while the so-called US maximum pressure policy on Iran is mounting.
When asked how internal unity within Iran's government institutions could contribute to solving national challenges, Gholamreza Mesbahi, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, said that success is undoubtedly tied to the cohesion and unity of the three branches of government, which are the executive, the legislative and the judiciary.
When these branches collaborate with mutual understanding and constructive interaction to address public issues, progress will be much faster, he said.
“The Supreme Leader has facilitated meetings among the heads of the three branches of government to foster agreements on national issues. These agreements, once approved by the Leader, move toward implementation, significantly expediting and streamlining governance,” Mesbahi said.
Mostafa Mir Salim, also a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, said cohesion within the government is still far from ideal and should be addressed seriously by the three branches as it requires the will and effort to act.
Mohammad Saeed Ahadian, the political and media assistant to the Parliament Speaker, wrote on his X account that coordination among Iran’s three branches of government remains good, but the political forces should try to show more cohesion and consideration, stating that the “enemy is trying to create discord and stir up internal differences.”
At the diplomatic level, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran will not succumb to external pressure.
Speaking at the opening of an exhibition on Iranian women's achievements, the deputy foreign minister said, “Yes, sanctions affect people's lives, but they will never achieve their objectives,” according to the Tasnim news agency.
“Iran is an independent nation. It cannot be coerced into submission through threats and sanctions,” he said.
Gharibabadi criticized Western-backed sanctions against Iran, arguing that they jeopardize the rights and well-being of millions. “If they truly care about Iranians’ human rights, they should lift unilateral sanctions,” he noted.
