Analysis by PMOI/MEK
Iran, May 21, 2019 – In a Saturday meeting with a group of the regime’s cronies, which some state media describe as “the possessors of culture and art” (A), Iranian regime President Hassan Rouhani warned of the critical status quo, saying the “back bending situation” has yet to come.
Describing the extent of the public’s hatred toward the regime “losing social resources”, Rouhani said, “What we are missing today is the social resources. Our social resources have weakened. That is why we have so many problems. Otherwise, the government is the same.”
Rouhani then acknowledged the weak morale inside the regime and repeated defections among government officials. The regime’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei had also warned about such outcomes.
“We have some problems. Sometimes these problems increase and sometimes they decrease. And sometimes they bend our backs, and we have to rise up to be able to govern the country again,” Rouhani said.
Finding himself in a difficult circumstance, Rouhani also warned of the grave situation yet to come.
“We have a tough year ahead of us. A difficult year. Yes! We are under pressure now. We are facing difficult economic circumstances and a difficult road ahead. We have tough days before us, more than what you might think,” Rouhani said trying to portray a grim picture of future.
Rouhani is also under the pressure from the rival Khamenei faction for his endeavors to keep the nuclear deal alive, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He tried to name the benefits of the JCPOA, something he himself said last week that he is trying to exit from.
“It was the JCPOA that paved the way to complete the star of the Persian Gulf because this project started before the signing of the nuclear deal. But why was it not inaugurated? If it wasn’t for the JCPOA, the completion of this project would probably take another 10 to 20 years,” Rouhani added.
The clerical regime’s president also claimed that thanks to the JCPOA, Phase 15 of the South Pars oil and gas field project is now launched.
Khamenei’s comments on Wednesday during a meeting with heads of the government focused on rejecting any concept of dialogue with the United States, especially with the Trump administration, calling such a move “double poison.”
Rouhani said dialogue is “education” and “art,” and insisted on the need and the necessity of negotiations. The obvious rift between the two camps clearly shows the deepening split at the very top of the mullahs’ regime.
Rouhani said, “We are ready for a dialogue, we welcome a dialogue. However, we do not negotiate with someone who says we pull you to the negotiating table.”
