Prosecutor and IRGC Commander Attack Rouhani Amid Proposal for 'Unilateral Ceasefire'

Continuing the attacks from close associates of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, and despite the proposal for a 'unilateral ceasefire' from principlists to the government, Alireza Zakani, a principlist political activist, the Attorney General, and the Commander of the IRGC once again attacked Hassan Rouhani. According to ISNA news agency, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Attorney General, on Saturday, July 1, criticized what he called 'destruction and weakening of the judiciary'. He emphasized: 'If it is said that you have done nothing but kill and imprison over these 37 years, we say the judiciary's job is to deal with crime. If there had been no action from the judiciary in the 1980s, the roots of hypocrisy would not have been eradicated.' Montazeri's remarks referred to statements made by Hassan Rouhani during the presidential elections about Ebrahim Raisi, the election candidate and former first deputy of the judiciary. Ebrahim Raisi, along with several others including Mostafa Pourmohammadi, the Minister of Justice in Rouhani's government, was part of the decision-making committee regarding the execution of political prisoners in 1988. Meanwhile, Hassan Rouhani stated on Tuesday, May 7, in Hamadan that 'the people of Iran declare that they do not accept those who have only known execution and imprisonment for 38 years.' A day before Montazeri's remarks, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson for the judiciary, referred to the 'destruction' against the IRGC, Basij, and judiciary, stating that 'a new sedition is ahead.' On July 1, Hassan Rouhani indirectly criticized the activities of the IRGC, stating that part of Iran's economy is in the hands of a 'government' that 'has both guns and media' and 'no one dares to compete with them.' Mohammad Ali Jafari, the IRGC commander, called these remarks 'unfair' and stated that if the government is 'without guns', it will be 'humiliated and surrendered by enemies.' Jafari also criticized what he called 'some efforts to stir up low-level media discussions about the IRGC', saying that 'these efforts will yield nothing but failure for their initiators.' On Friday, Ali Saeedi, the Supreme Leader's representative in the IRGC, referred to Rouhani's remarks, stating that 'both the US and some insiders attack the IRGC.' The Attorney General's remarks against Rouhani come amid increasing verbal clashes between Rouhani and Ayatollah Khamenei, as well as institutions under his supervision, following Rouhani's re-election. During last Friday's rally, some around Rouhani chanted slogans like 'Death to hypocrites' and 'Rouhani, your fate is like Banisadr's', which received widespread attention in Iran. The Attorney General mentioned that the Tehran prosecutor has opened a case regarding this matter, and the Ministry of Intelligence and Law Enforcement have also 'gathered necessary information.' He also raised the question of how supporters of the President would react if the head of the judiciary were insulted. The Attorney General's comments come at a time when several political activists and journalists have been imprisoned for criticizing the head of the judiciary. For instance, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, the lawyer for imprisoned journalist Ebrahim Saharkhiz, reported on Wednesday, July 5, that his client had been sentenced to six months in prison for 'insulting the head of the judiciary.' A few days before the rally participants chanted against Rouhani, Ayatollah Khamenei warned on Tuesday, July 22, that the experience of 1979 should not be repeated, where 'the then President [Abulhassan Banisadr] polarized society and divided the people into opposing and supportive groups.' Following these remarks, some Telegram channels and websites supporting Ayatollah Khamenei warned that Rouhani might face a fate similar to that of Banisadr. The continuation of attacks from close associates of the Supreme Leader against the Iranian President comes as Hassan Rouhani's swearing-in ceremony will be held on August 5, after which he will form his second cabinet. Meanwhile, Es'hagh Jahangiri, Rouhani's first vice president, stated on Saturday that 'we must accept the people's vote,' emphasizing that 'the government will not deviate from its path.' Despite the ongoing attacks from principlists against the government, Alireza Zakani, a principlist representative in the ninth parliament, wrote on his Telegram channel: 'It seems we must be vigilant today, avoid turmoil, and even declare a unilateral ceasefire to create calm and give the general public the opportunity to distinguish between the right and wrong, paving the way for fundamental reform in the direction of the country's officials.' Ahmad Tavakoli, another principlist representative in the ninth parliament, also welcomed this proposal on his Twitter account, stating that 'even if it is one-sided, let us declare a ceasefire so that fundamental reforms can be carried out by the government.' However, Abdollah Ramazanzadeh, spokesperson for former President Mohammad Khatami's government, proposed a 'national dialogue' in response to Zakani's remarks. Mostafa Tajzadeh, a prominent reformist figure, reacted to this proposal on Twitter, stating that 'I do not favor either a fire-at-will approach or a ceasefire, as we have neither collapsed nor do I see politics as a battlefield where one side's victory necessitates the other's destruction.' He emphasized: 'Let us pass through the fire with the miracle of dialogue and realize a national agreement with a win-win strategy; achieving consensus on vital issues despite differences on other topics.' Former President Mohammad Khatami expressed hope for 'national reconciliation and internal solidarity' in Iran, stating that 'now is the best opportunity to create solidarity among all forces in the path of national interests and to repel and eliminate threats and conspiracies.' However, a week later, the Supreme Leader dismissed this plan as 'meaningless,' stating that 'we will not reconcile with the seditionists of Ashura 88.'