Khamenei calling for forming parallel government in Iran

Noura Bendari

Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei calls for the formation of a government loyal to him every time there is a conflict in Iran between reformist President Hassan Rouhani, on one hand, and the country’s conservatives who include the Revolutionary Guard Corpse and the parliamentary majority, on the other hand.

Khamenei’s call for the formation of a new government comes this time while the coronavirus continues to spread because of the failure of the country’s management of the virus crisis.

Each of the competing parties is trying to win the hearts of Iranian citizens and convince them that it is more capable of managing Iran’s affairs and solving its problems.

This is particularly true with Iran preparing to hold its presidential elections in mid-2021.

The elections will be held this time while U.S. economic sanctions continue to have a heavy toll on the Iranian economy and the living conditions of Iranian citizens.

New government

Khamenei said at an online meeting with university students on May 17 that a new government had to be formed to solve Iran’s problems, calling this government the “Young Hezbollah Government.”

He added, however, that the prime minister did not necessarily need to be in his thirties.

“Nonetheless, the government has to be modern, optimistic and ready,” Khamenei said.

He also called on Iranian youth to stop protesting, claiming that Iran’s enemies portray the demonstrations as an expression of the desire of the public to depose the Iranian regime.

Messages

Khamenei’s remarks reflect his fears from a widening of the scope of the protests in Iran.

The Iranian supreme leader is aware that ordinary Iranians are not satisfied with economic conditions in their country. They are not happy with the way Iranian institutions are managing the coronavirus crisis either.

He just wanted to give a message to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corpse that it needs to fully control the Islamic Republic, especially if things get out of control because of the protests, the coronavirus and the deteriorating economy.