Repeated Criticism of Rouhani's Economic Policy, This Time at Friday Prayer Sermon

Continuing the criticisms from the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic and his close associates, the Imam of Tehran criticized the government's economic performance, stating that neglecting to recognize the 'most suitable' candidate in the 2017 presidential election would result in 'severe punishment in the afterlife.' Imams from several other cities in Iran also criticized the failure to implement 'resistance economy,' and the Imam of Mashhad accused Hassan Rouhani's government of having 'deviated' from its execution. According to Fars News Agency, Mohammad Ali Mohammadi Kermani, the Imam of Tehran, said in his Friday sermon on March 17 that 'the people's livelihood issues are a deep concern' for the Supreme Leader and the Assembly of Experts. Referring to the Supreme Leader's remarks, he added: 'The continuation of the current state of domestic production means unemployment, and this no longer relates to America.' Mr. Mohammadi Kermani called the 2017 presidential election a 'great and fateful test' and said, 'We must strive to recognize the most suitable candidate; neglecting this matter will result in severe punishment in the afterlife.' Before Mr. Mohammadi Kermani's remarks, Gholamreza Mesbahi Moghadam, a member of the ninth parliament and a member of the Combatant Clergy Association, also criticized the government's economic performance. He referred to the arrival of a new airplane in Iran after the Vienna nuclear agreement, saying, 'It would be better if the government simultaneously organized domestic airplane production.' Mr. Mesbahi Moghadam also claimed, without providing details, that it is impossible to transfer ten billion dollars of Iran's blocked funds abroad, and 'America has acted dishonorably in this matter.' The criticism from the Imams of Friday prayers comes at a time when, according to Majid Ansari, the legal deputy of the President, attacks against Hassan Rouhani have increased following his 'high vote' in a 'formal poll.' On Tuesday, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the government spokesman, described the doubts raised by state media against the economic statistics of official institutions through interviews with a number of people, without providing numbers, as 'petty' and stated that a 'special political team' in this institution is preparing 'calculated programs' to 'undermine' the government. These remarks from government officials followed the Supreme Leader's expressed doubts about the accuracy of government statistics regarding the improvement of the country's economic situation and the severe attacks from his close associates on the government's economic performance in recent days. On Thursday, March 8, Ayatollah Khamenei, in a meeting with members of the Assembly of Experts, expressed doubts about the accuracy of government statistics regarding the improvement of people's economic conditions, stating, 'These do not affect people's lives and livelihoods in the short and medium term.' Two days prior, Ahmad Jannati, the head of the Assembly of Experts and Secretary of the Guardian Council, had asked Hassan Rouhani to report on the government's actions to implement 'resistance economy' and 'if he has not implemented resistance economy, he should apologize to the people as much as possible.' The next day, Hassan Rouhani reacted to these remarks, calling the question of whether the government has succeeded in 'resistance economy' an 'irrelevant question' and 'the worst question.' On March 20, also, Eshaq Jahangiri, the first vice president, in a letter to Ahmad Jannati, while rejecting criticisms of the government's performance regarding 'resistance economy,' stated that those who should be 'accountable' for their actions in this regard are 'interrogating the government.' However, Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Imam of Mashhad, cited 'excessive crude oil sales,' 'exaggeration of the effects of sanctions,' 'the establishment of large foreign stores,' and 'the awarding of contracts to foreign companies' as examples of the government's 'deviation' from resistance economy. He also criticized the awarding of oil contracts to foreign companies instead of awarding them to the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Mr. Alamolhoda identified another instance of the government's 'deviation' in implementing resistance economy as 'planning based on the assumption of no sanctions' and claimed that after the Vienna nuclear agreement, Western sanctions against Iran have 'increased.' Mr. Alamolhoda noted that he is 'not seeking to undermine the government,' but at the same time announced that 'the Friday prayer podium is a place for raising the Leader's demands,' and regarding the failure to implement 'resistance economy,' the 'problem is not only with the government but more with the parliament than the government.' Officials of Hassan Rouhani's government cite factors such as an 11 percent economic growth and a single-digit inflation rate as evidence of improved economic conditions for the people compared to the early days of this government. In contrast, some analysts and media outlets state that economic growth has not yet had a noticeable impact on the living conditions of the Iranian people and employment. Hassan Rouhani's government officials also state that the actions of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government had many negative impacts on Iran's economy, and part of their efforts has been spent on eliminating these impacts.