President should resign if he can't resolve crises, Iranian pundit says

Calls are growing for the Iranian president to fulfill promises made during his campaign or step down, as the administration faces accusations of inaction amid mounting public dissatisfaction.

“If he promised to remove internet restrictions and says he can, then he should. If he can’t, he should walk away,” political analyst Abbas Abdi said in comments published by Khabar Online on Saturday.

“There was no need for more meetings. He could have issued the order in the summer and the platforms would have been unblocked immediately.”

The sharp remarks come amid waning confidence in the president, elected on a platform that included commitments to ease Islamic restrictions on society, give more freedom to the media, and restore access to global platforms like Telegram, Instagram, and YouTube.

Voters also hoped Pezeshkian would help achieve a diplomatic breakthrough with the United States and ease the burden of crippling US sanctions. However, foreign policy is under the firm control of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and it is clear he is not willing to make sufficient concessions.

Nearly eight months into his presidency, critics say none of these objectives have been meaningfully pursued—and the economic situation has deteriorated further, with the national currency plunging to an all-time low.

Abdi argued that Pezeshkian’s declining popularity reflected the administration’s inaction. “His approval should have gone up since taking office. Instead, it’s halved,” he said.

The critique reflects broader disillusionment among segments of the Iranian public. Protests over economic hardship and social constraints have surged in recent months, and Abdi warned that the next wave could be more expansive. “Right now, each sector has had its own protests. Economic protests have come from the lower classes, while cultural and social protests have been led by women... Now, they’ve all come together. In my opinion, the next wave of protests will be very widespread—unless the political system decides to address and resolve some of these issues.”

Although Pezeshkian promised reforms, he also said he had no plans of his own and would follow Khamenei's policies.

Esmail Gerami-Moghaddam, another political figure aligned with the Reformist camp, echoed similar frustrations, urging Pezeshkian to “stand firmly against hardliners” and fulfill the mandate given to him by voters. “The public voted not for the endurance of hardline power, but for its curtailment,” he said.

Gerami-Moghaddam criticized Pezeshkian’s decision to retain conservative ministers and warned that ongoing economic woes, compounded by sanctions, will persist unless there is a shift in foreign and domestic policy. “No one can stabilize the economy without addressing the sanctions,” he said.

Both figures cited structural dysfunction as a key impediment.

Pezeshkian appears to lack clear solutions on pressing issues. Addressing Iran’s soaring prices, he recently admitted, "I have no idea whom to blame for the uncontrolled rising prices." His remark drew sharp criticism on social media, where many reminded him that, as president, he is ultimately responsible for the government's handling of the crisis.