Senior IRGC Commander Criticizes Hassan Rouhani and Government Officials

Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, in remarks published on Friday, criticized government officials and Hassan Rouhani, stating: "A small number of Western-oriented managers have hindered the country's progress." This senior IRGC commander also attributed part of today's problems in Iran to officials who "do not make the right choices." Hajizadeh did not name any specific individual or position. He emphasized that "we should not expect help from the West to solve our problems. They have shown their true colors." According to this senior commander, "one example is the JCPOA, which at least had the benefit of removing the mask from America's face, allowing us to see the reality of America." Speaking in the city of Fasa in Fars province, Hajizadeh referred to the economic shortages during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, stating: "During the war, none of our commanders said we could not manage and needed to bring in foreign managers. Commanders did not say we would not fight until arms sanctions were lifted." About two weeks ago, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, stated at the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade: "It is problematic for foreign investors to come, but it is not a problem for a football coach to come? If a foreign football coach has managed and improved our national team, how can it be forbidden for a foreign scientist and investor to enter the country?" The Iranian president also spoke about the necessity of having foreign companies oversee construction projects. Hajizadeh, in another part of his speech, said: "An official who today sets conditions for high-ranking officials and says certain actions must be taken, otherwise consequences will follow, does not have the capacity to perform and should be removed." In recent months, various officials in the government, including Hassan Rouhani and Mohammad Javad Zarif, the foreign minister, have linked the necessity of passing four bills related to the FATF to the continuation of banking and economic relations with other countries, especially the European Union. Rouhani stated yesterday that "Iran's friends" are waiting for the approval of these bills. The IRGC Aerospace Force commander attributed part of today's problems in Iran to the Iranian people, stating that "some of these managers are the result of people's choices. A manager who gains the people's vote, why does he support America from an official podium?" According to Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, "many lawmakers and city council members are not prominent individuals." He continued: "Rest assured, someone who is elected with kebab votes will sell the nation and the country at the lowest price, and for this reason, the issue of elections is of great importance." In another part of his speech regarding "Iran's military capabilities," he said: "Some say we have pushed the shadow of war away with certain actions. But this is not true; what has kept war away from the country is the capability of our armed forces, including the IRGC, Basij, army, and police." This commander of the IRGC referred to Hassan Rouhani's remarks in April 2017, where he stated: "The JCPOA removed the shadow of war from Iran." At that time, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, also reacted to Rouhani's remarks, stating that they "are not true." According to the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, "today, thousands of people are working in missile research sectors, and thousands are working in operational missile sectors," attributing this to the selection of "accountable managers" who have not risen through "corruption." In recent years, there have been disagreements between the government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps over various issues, including foreign relations, which occasionally manifest in verbal disputes between IRGC commanders and government officials.