Minister of Information: We Kiss the Lips of Those Who Criticize

Mahmoud Alavi, the Iranian Minister of Information, defended the performance of Hassan Rouhani's government in various areas over the past three years during a television program aired in the Government Week. He stated that the achievements of the government are not adequately reflected. The Minister of Information referred to some individuals who are trying to undermine the government, calling them liars. He also mentioned that "the weakness of the government is a media weakness... the opposition has spent hundreds of billions to bring the government down." Mahmoud Alavi added, "We kiss the lips of those who criticize." His statements come at a time when reports indicate that labor activists have been summoned and arrested by the Ministry of Information in recent years. Ali Kashtgar, a political analyst and activist residing in France, told Radio Farda, "We have not seen the government welcoming labor criticisms at all, nor did the government take any action when defenders of teachers' rights were arrested." Mr. Kashtgar added that the Minister of Information's remarks are merely a formality for the opposing faction.