Criticism from Friday Prayer Leaders on the Economic Performance of Hassan Rouhani's Government

Several Friday prayer leaders in Iran, during their sermons on August 9, severely criticized the performance of Hassan Rouhani's government, rejecting negotiations with the United States and deeming negotiations with Europe useless. According to Tasnim News Agency, Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Friday prayer leader of Mashhad, addressed government officials saying, "You went and negotiated; you turned the three-thousand-toman dollar into ten thousand tomans, and you still want to negotiate?" He emphasized that Europe and the U.S. are "sworn enemies of ours, and the difference is only in method." Alamolhoda and several other Friday prayer leaders likened the current situation in Iran to the "Battle of the Parties," where "Muslims triumphed over the infidels." He also stated, "Muslims at the time of the Battle of the Parties had no sustenance, but our current situation is much better than then." In last week's sermons, the Friday prayer leader criticized protesters, saying, "One should not stand against the regime because of a falling stomach." Iran's economy has faced severe turbulence and tensions in recent months following Donald Trump's final decision to withdraw from the JCPOA. The rial has significantly lost its value against the dollar, the prices of gold coins and other goods have increased, and a wave of protests has emerged in several cities across Iran. Trump has emphasized that Iran's economic situation is rapidly deteriorating, and ultimately it is the senior officials of the Islamic Republic who must decide whether they are willing to negotiate. However, government officials have rejected negotiations with the U.S. Meanwhile, Mohammad Imami Kashani, the Friday prayer leader of Tehran, stated that the Islamic Republic "will not yield to negotiations with the U.S." Referring to recent protests, he said, "Trump's claim that Iran's economic situation has changed rapidly is unacceptable to Iranian pride, so how can a number of adventurers start making noise, and... some take pictures of this situation and reflect it, allowing enemies to maneuver on it, hoping to pressure Iran into negotiations?" The Prime Minister of Iraq announced on August 7 in a press conference that Baghdad does not agree with U.S. sanctions against Iran but will comply with them to protect its own interests. However, Mohammad Ali Jazayeri, the Friday prayer leader of Ahvaz, thanked the Iraqi government, people, and political groups for their alleged "disavowal and disgust towards U.S. sanctions." Several other Friday prayer leaders also criticized the government's economic team. Rasoul Flahati, the Friday prayer leader of Rasht, said that the President "failed to make the people happy" in his televised interview. In recent weeks, Friday prayer leaders and other principlist figures in Iran have severely criticized Hassan Rouhani's government performance. They attribute the country's economic problems not to U.S. sanctions, but to the government's "weak" performance and what they describe as "exploitation by profiteers."