On Friday, July 6, Gholamhossein Ghaibparvar, the commander of the Basij, reacted once again to criticisms regarding the presence of the IRGC in Iran's economy, addressing government officials by saying that if they oppose the IRGC's involvement in the economic sphere, they should officially announce it. According to Mehr News Agency, Ghaibparvar stated at a memorial ceremony for one of the casualties in the Syrian war: "Some, in unison with America, Israel, and the hypocrites, are attacking the IRGC." He pointed out that "some are trying to weaken the IRGC," and added: "If you do not want the IRGC to enter the economic fields, officially declare that the IRGC should not enter the economic sphere for the country's progress." In recent weeks, verbal tensions have escalated between the President of the Eleventh Government and IRGC commanders regarding this institution's interference in economic affairs. On July 1, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a veiled criticism of the IRGC's activities, stated that part of Iran's economy is in the hands of a "government" that "has both guns and media" and that "no one dares to compete with them." Following Rouhani's remarks, criticisms and responses began, with IRGC commanders and other high-ranking officials in the Islamic Republic taking a stance against him. Ghaibparvar continued, saying: "Are the judgments really fair? Do you not acknowledge your debts of thousands of billions of tomans? Has anyone asked you? Have you been demanded? Be fair." He added: "The IRGC operates in various fields such as oil and gas, tunnels, and railways. If you want them to step aside, officially announce it so they can step aside." The Basij commander had previously reacted to Rouhani's comments, interpreting Rouhani's statement about the IRGC being 'gunmen' as an imitation of the term 'thug' used by some of the Islamic Republic's opponents in the early years of this regime. Ghaibparvar also accused the Iranian president of intentionally trying to 'weaken' this military force. The increasing presence of the IRGC and its affiliated companies in various economic sectors is a topic of discussion in Iran. In recent years, several, including the president of the Tenth Government, have criticized the economic role of the IRGC. Meanwhile, economic experts say that Rouhani's government is trying to curb the IRGC's dominance over various aspects of Iranian society, such as foreign and economic policy, to fulfill its promises and advance its programs.
Basij Commander: Officially Declare That the IRGC Should Not Enter the Economic Sphere
Gholamhossein Ghaibparvar, the Basij commander, has urged government officials to officially declare their opposition to the IRGC's involvement in the economy. This comes amidst rising tensions between President Hassan Rouhani and IRGC leaders regarding the military's economic activities. The ongoing debate over the IRGC's role in Iran's economy is significant as it reflects broader power struggles within the Iranian political landscape.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Basij commander, Gholamhossein Ghaibparvar, called on Iranian government officials to officially declare their stance on the IRGC's involvement in the economy amidst rising tensions with President Hassan Rouhani. Rouhani criticized the IRGC's economic role, leading to a public exchange of criticisms.
- Ghaibparvar accused some of aligning with foreign adversaries to weaken the IRGC.
- Rouhani implied the IRGC's economic dominance is unchallengeable due to its military and media power.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The IRGC has expanded its economic activities significantly, often criticized for overshadowing civilian sectors and influencing politics.
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