Iran International
Iran's president and parliament speaker once again acknowledged that the country is facing a severe economic crisis, with people under "immense" inflationary pressure, with no relief from sanctions in sight.
Speaking at a February 3 meeting of top state officials, led by the heads of the three branches of government, President Masoud Pezeshkian said his government is three months behind on some employee payments, while security forces arrest those who protest the delays in the streets.
"We owe them the money, and it is our responsibility to pay them," Pezeshkian said, adding that the government has to solve the people's problems. He further urged everyone at the meeting "to avoid angering the people."
He said some foreign officials continue to claim that "Iran has been badly weakened and protests are imminent," accusing foreign governments of seeking to exploit public unrest.
Pezeshkian noted that "nearly half of eligible voters did not participate in the latest presidential election, but we are still responsible for serving and addressing the demands of all citizens, including those who did not vote." He acknowledged that while the government aims to serve the people, "they are not satisfied with the way we work," according to Aftab News.
At the same time, Mohammad Hashemi, an influential centrist politician, pointed out that only Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei can authorize Iranian officials to negotiate with the United States to reach a deal on reducing sanctions.
Meanwhile, Iran's state-run news channel aired remarks from both President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament (Majles) Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf, in which they said they "regret that the people are facing so many financial difficulties." However, some Iranian media outlets, including the state-owned ISNA news agency, only reported portions of their speeches that omitted references to the country's dire economic situation.
Politicians outside the government, including former lawmaker Ali Motahari also echoed Ghalibaf's comment about the dire situation of the economy.
The conservative website Nameh News quoted Pezeshkian as saying at the meeting, "We are duty-bound to solve the people's problems, and if we cannot, we must apologize. Instead, when we fail to pay our debts to them, we mistreat them and send them to jail. These people have worked hard and simply want to be paid for their labor. At the very least, we should speak to them with respect and ask for more time to fulfill our obligations."
Nameh News also quoted Pezeshkian as saying, "Iran's economic situation is unacceptable. Prices are high, people are under pressure, and we cannot fully resolve the crisis, as part of the solution is beyond our control."
Pezeshkian was likely referring to the fact that only Khamenei can authorize negotiations with the United States as a possible step toward addressing Iran's economic problems. The way the heads of the government's branches spoke about the issue on state TV suggests they were making a similar point, possibly attempting to persuade Khamenei to soften his stance on negotiations.
In an interview with the centrist daily Arman Melli, Mohammad Hashemi, a former chief of state television, emphasized that "negotiations with the United States are important for Iran, and only Khamenei, as Supreme Leader, can authorize Iranian officials to participate." He added that "the views of hardliners influenced by the ultraconservative Paydary Party will not determine the fate of the negotiations."
Meanwhile, Iranian media quoted a deputy intelligence minister as saying, "Iran will not negotiate with the United States, as those seeking talks want Iran to retreat from its positions or passively witness the collapse of its political system."
Bijan Kazemi's home was raided by security agents in the western town of Kuhdasht in Lorestan province on Jan. 21, the source added, and all electronic devices belonging to him and his family were confiscated.
Kazemi was allowed to make a quick phone call to relatives.
“Kazemi was transferred from Kuhdasht to Ward 209 of Tehran's Evin Prison after his arrest. Intelligence Ministry agents beat him and are trying to extract a forced confession claiming that the shooter who killed Razini and Moghiseh obtained his weapon from him,” added the source, who requested anonymity for security reasons.
The two judges, Mohammad Moghiseh and Ali Razini were shot dead in Tehran on January 18 at the Supreme Court in central Tehran, in a rare attack on veteran top players in the theocracy. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei led their funeral prayers.
According to Iranian media, the shooter, whose identity has not been revealed, took his own life as he was pursued by security forces.
Since the killings of Razini and Moghiseh, the Intelligence Ministry has arrested several former political prisoners allegedly in connection with the incident. No details have been released on those detainees.
Kazemi was previously imprisoned for two years after an arrest in 2020. He was allegedly affiliated with the formerly armed opposition group, Mojahedin-e Khalq, also known as MEK, according to the Iran Prison Atlas published by the California-based human rights organization United4Iran.
The two jurists, both clerics, had decades-long histories of handing down death sentences and lengthy prison terms to dissidents in numerous cases, and were nicknamed the “hanging judges” by critics.
Moghiseh and Razini were known for their roles in the 1988 mass executions of political prisoners.
During the targeted attack, one of the guards of the Supreme Court’s 39th Branch was also injured, but his identity has yet to be disclosed.
Islamic Republic officials have given conflicting reports over how the killings took place.
“A note left by the attacker indicates that the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) instructed him,” said Jafar Ghadiani, the Disciplinary Prosecutor for Judges in a statement on January 26.
A newspaper in Iran published a report on January 19 saying only 13 seconds passed from the moment the shooter entered the office to the time he left, during which he fired six rounds in rapid succession.
The deaths of Moghiseh and Razini struck a nerve in Iran particularly among former political prisoners, many of whom described harsh punishments they meted out.