Khamenei moves to calm domestic rifts as outside pressure mounts
Iran International
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has publicly rebuked Iran’s parliament for excessive oversight and political infighting, urging lawmakers to ease off ministers and help the country strike a united front.
The rare criticism, delivered during a June 11 meeting with members of the Majles, was widely seen as an attempt to rein in hardline MPs amid growing tensions with President Massoud Pezeshkian’s administration.
"Not all these questions are necessary. Not all these summonses are necessary," Khamenei said. "When you summon a minister to a commission, it takes up time—two, three hours. Reduce the number of these. Cooperation with the government means minimizing such actions."
His remarks come as the United Nations nuclear watchdog rebuked Iran over alleged proliferation failings, the resumption of UN sanctions looms and President Trump warned on Thursday of a potential Israeli attack and "massive conflict".
The comments come amid ongoing efforts by hardliners to derail Pezeshkian’s cabinet appointments. Conservative MPs have targeted his nominee for economy minister, Ali Madanizadeh, under a law barring dual nationals or officials with immediate family holding foreign citizenship from senior posts.
Khamenei asserted that the Majles retains the right to question and investigate, but keeps it to a necessary minimum and not bring political or ideological differences into open conflict.
“On fundamental issues, the country must speak with one voice. Our nation and all its institutions—our political class, our management structure—must act as one hand,” he said.
Iran faces a delicate moment in its foreign policy with US nuclear talks stuck in a rut, while the UN’s nuclear watchdog is expected to issue a resolution declaring Iran non-compliant.
Khamenei made no direct reference to the nuclear stand-off, but appeared to have it in mind when saying public clashes at this time were “more harmful than ever.”
Domestic front
In recent weeks, hardliners have also called for Vice Presidents Mohammad Reza Aref and Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah to resign under the same statute.
The hardline daily Hamshahri quoted MP Hamid Rasai insisting their cases were "more problematic" than that of former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who stepped down under similar pressure.
Khabar Online accused Rasai and his allies of weaponizing the law to obstruct the government, while parliamentary vice president Majid Ansari said Khamenei himself believes the law needs revision.
Meanwhile, several hardline MPs have filed formal complaints against former Economy Minister Abdolnasser Hemmati, who accused some parliamentarians of seeking bribes to halt his impeachment in March.
The IRGC-linked Javan daily warned the complaints could further damage public trust, while former MP Davoud Mohammadi defended political deal-making as standard practice.
Though sidelined from nuclear negotiations and broader foreign policy, parliament hardliners remain intent on asserting influence. But Khamenei’s intervention may complicate their efforts.