Representative of the Supreme Leader: Westernizers Seek a Moderate and Passive Parliament

On Thursday, February 8, the representative of the Supreme Leader in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that "Westernizers are seeking a moderate and passive parliament for the future." He added, "Our demand and that of the Leader of the Revolution is for a revolutionary parliament to stand against the influence of Western thought." Although Ali Saeedi did not specify the identities of the individuals he referred to, his remarks could indirectly point to Hassan Rouhani and his associates, who have always referred to his government as a "moderate government" and emphasized centrism. According to Fars News Agency, Ali Saeedi made this statement during a speech in Isfahan, adding that the upcoming Islamic Consultative Assembly and Assembly of Experts must be in line with the dignity and standards of the Revolution. Elections for the two assemblies are scheduled to be held on March 7 of this year. The representative of the Supreme Leader in the IRGC also described the performance of the Guardian Council as jihad-like, stating that the Leader today stands alone against Western thought. The widespread disqualification of candidates for the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly of Experts has drawn criticism, including from Hassan Rouhani, the President, and Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of the Expediency Discernment Council. In this context, the Iranian President stated on February 1, "Should we ignore a faction in the country whose population and supporters amount to about 10 million?" Meanwhile, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Republic, expressed his support for the Guardian Council on January 20, stating, "In no part of the world is someone who does not accept the system allowed to enter decision-making centers." The representative of the Supreme Leader in the IRGC pointed out that some are Westernizers, adding, "Today, those who have distanced themselves from the crossroads of the Revolution... are trying to deviate the Revolution, but they must know that revolutionaries stand against their conspiracies and seditions." In recent months, several figures and groups of principlists and supporters of Ayatollah Khamenei have criticized the efforts of a faction they call "Westernizers," based on the concept of infiltration he has introduced, demanding that members of this faction not be allowed into decision-making centers in Iran. According to Fars, Ali Saeedi added that a faction has been seeking to establish relations with the U.S. since 1989. He did not name any members of this faction, but his remarks could refer to the presidency of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani in 1989 after the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.