Government Spokesman Warns Against Political Misuse of 'Fire at Will' Command

In the first official response of Hassan Rouhani's government to Ayatollah Khamenei's 'Fire at Will' command, the government spokesman warned that 'political misuse' of the Supreme Leader's words would be a 'great injustice' to him. According to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Mohammad Baqer Nobakht said in his press conference on Tuesday, June 13, that 'this issue of fire at will should also be considered in such a way that every individual is responsible for culture and must strive to enhance the cultural level of society.' The spokesman further attempted to show that the Supreme Leader's remarks were aimed not only at the government but also at other institutions. He added, 'Especially in the cultural sector, where the government has a lesser share and role, although the government is responsible for funding, the executors are not only government agencies, and culture does not only include executive bodies.' However, Ayatollah Khamenei, in explaining the unofficial 'Fire at Will' command, referred to a letter regarding the prayer of 'Rabbana' by Mohammad Reza Shajarian, which directly pertains to Hassan Rouhani's government. On Wednesday, June 7, the Supreme Leader, using the military term 'fire at will,' called on 'soft war officers' to take action and make decisions when there are 'disruptions and shutdowns' in the central intellectual, cultural, and political apparatus of the country. These remarks by Ayatollah Khamenei received significant attention, and some analysts interpreted them as a license for the Supreme Leader's supporters to take illegal actions against opponents and the programs of Hassan Rouhani's government. However, media close to the Supreme Leader have presented a different definition of this term. For instance, the newspaper 'Javan,' affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, wrote that this term, contrary to interpretations presented in the media and cyberspace, 'complements the government.' According to 'Javan,' this term 'means pursuing ideals and demands spontaneously and outside the boundaries and confines of governmental and official organizations.' The Supreme Leader himself, on Tuesday, without directly referring to his previous remarks, stated that 'it has become common these days' for media abroad to 'interpret every word of officials widely according to their own will.' In response to the remarks of the head of the judiciary regarding the 2030 UNESCO document, the government spokesman emphasized that copies of the government's resolutions regarding this document have been sent to various organizations and 'there is nothing secret about it.' He also stated that the government 'pays special attention to the Leader's concerns' and will not implement it until 'his concerns' are resolved and the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution approves the document. A day before Mr. Nobakht's remarks, Sadegh Larijani, the head of the judiciary, called the judiciary's knowledge of the details of the 2030 document 'a complete lie' and urged Hassan Rouhani's government to 'take responsibility for its actions in this regard and not look for a partner in crime.' Prior to these remarks, Hassan Rouhani's Instagram had published an image of the government's resolution regarding this document, indicating that the office of Ayatollah Khamenei and other branches were aware of this resolution. The image of government documents was published on Instagram after the Supreme Leader, in his famous 'Fire at Will' speech on Wednesday, hinted at the President by saying that 'they do not give him a false report.' According to the image of documents published on social media, a copy of this resolution was sent in September 2016, a year ago, to the office of the Supreme Leader, the Parliament, the judiciary, the General Inspection Organization, the Court of Accounts, and other 'Islamic Revolution institutions.' Meanwhile, the protests of conservatives, led by the Supreme Leader, against the implementation of this document began more than six months later. For instance, Ayatollah Khamenei criticized the 'quiet implementation' of the 2030 UNESCO document in Iran on May 7, which sparked a wave of criticism against Hassan Rouhani's government that continues to this day. The UNESCO educational document for 2030, known as the 2030 document, emphasizes issues such as ensuring equal and inclusive education, environmental issues, gender equality, and equal social opportunities for women and men, human rights, eliminating discrimination against minorities, and promoting a culture of peace and non-violence.