Internal Collapse of System Evident in Clergy’s Criticism of Presidency

Criticism by the clergy against both the current and former president indicates an internal collapse of the system.

Hojjatoleslam Naser Naghvian, former secretary of the Supreme Commission for Presidential Selection who resigned from his position in 2019, responded to the selection of both the current and former presidents in recent remarks.

A video has circulated on social media in which Naser Naghvian reacted to the rhetoric and speech of Iran’s presidents. In his comments, he said: “When you search for the title ‘gaffe’ on the internet, it comes up. You yourselves would feel embarrassed by his sentence structure and rhetoric in the privacy of your own homes.”

While noting that the position of presidency is too great for Mr. Raisi, he declared: “I have said in many places that if we want to hold trials, we should first hold trials for those who impose such people on us. Did we even know Ahmadinejad? Or Rouhani! He is an enemy’s pawn and we are building support for him. First, those who approved him and imposed him on the people should be tried.”

He also addressed the Guardian Council, saying: “If you don’t know, then why are you doing this job?”

Hojjatoleslam Naghvian, in response to the question “Does the Guardian Council’s firm action still contain criticisms,” said: “The Guardian Council’s firm action is political, not cultural and logical. If the Guardian Council acts strictly and logically without discriminating between factions, it would have chosen the right path, and even the people would kiss their hands. They reject people who are qualified and bring in those they want, which are not comparable to each other.”

Political attacks by clerics against each other and system officials indicate its collapse.

The audio file of Hojjatoleslam Naser Naghvian’s remarks can be heard below.