The Beginning of 'Attacks on Rouhani's Government' in 2016

On Tuesday, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting's Channel One, stated that the lack of media coverage of military exercises in previous years has emboldened the Americans. He urged Iranian officials not to fear 'enemy threats,' asserting that fear is the most significant threat. Meanwhile, on the same day, Sadeq Amoli Larijani, head of the judiciary, emphasized the danger he referred to as 'infiltration,' stating that efforts for infiltration are not always apparent. The Supreme Leader had previously mentioned on the first day of Farvardin in Mashhad that some individuals seek to establish a discourse of surrender to the United States in the country. Mehdi Mahdavi Azad, a journalist and analyst on Iranian issues in Germany, commented on these statements to Radio Farda, suggesting that all these positions are parts of a command to attack the government, which Mr. Khamenei issued on the first of Farvardin. Regarding the consequences, impact, or outlook of this conflict on the daily politics of the Islamic Republic and the work of Hassan Rouhani's government, Mr. Mahdavi Azad stated that these positions and the continuation of this policy will result in nothing but increased friction and conflict among factions. Simultaneously, on Tuesday, Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, emphasized in Gilan that the enemy has not lifted sanctions with the JCPOA, asserting that the enemy has no intention of lifting the sanctions and is doing so gradually. Jafari described the struggle against the system of dominance and capitalism as ongoing and stressed that some are trying to deceive the people with misleading slogans. He warned those who, according to him, are seeking opposition.