Impeachment Push Intensifies as Iran’s Crisis Escalates: Hardliners Take Action

The Iranian parliament is currently facing a significant political crisis as hardliners push to impeach four cabinet ministers just five months after the government was formed. This move comes amidst an unprecedented economic downturn, raising questions about the stability and future of Iran’s political landscape.

Last week, the hardliners initiated a motion to impeach Economy Minister Abdolnasser Hemmati. Despite Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s opposition to this motion, the hardliners have broadened their impeachment efforts to include three additional ministers: Labor Minister Ahmad Maydari, Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, and Energy Minister Abas Aliabadi.

Moderate MP Gholamreza Tajgardoon suggested that Speaker Ghalibaf might still persuade lawmakers to withdraw the impeachment motion. However, the situation remains tense as the new government has only just begun to stabilize.

Economic Challenges and Political Maneuvering

The Iranian economy has faced severe challenges, with the national currency, the rial, losing 33% of its value in September alone. This sharp decline has been attributed to various regional setbacks, including significant military actions by Israel against Hezbollah.

The ultraconservative daily Vatan Emrooz reported the impeachment motion was submitted to the Majles Presidium despite Ghalibaf’s stance against it. The publication noted that the number of MPs supporting the impeachment of Hemmati surpasses those seeking to unseat the other three ministers:

• Over 70 MPs support the impeachment of Hemmati.
• Impeachment motions against the other ministers have been signed by around 10 MPs each.

Hardliners may be attempting to unseat at least one minister to assert their influence within the parliament, particularly since they have struggled to pass significant legislation since their entry into the parliament in May 2024.

Factional Motivations Behind Impeachment

Tajgardoon, the chairman of the Majles Budget Committee, commented that the calls for impeachment are deeply rooted in factional motivations. He indicated that hardliners might be specifically targeting the Oil and Labor Ministers, who had only narrowly secured the parliament’s vote of confidence. While acknowledging that Hemmati remains the primary target, Tajgardoon expressed hope that the motion would not culminate in Hemmati’s removal from office.

The conservative Nameh News reported that a successful impeachment could lead to a significant shift in government dynamics, potentially escalating tensions between the cabinet and parliament. The hardliners justifying their impeachment efforts cite the following reasons:

• Hemmati for the surging exchange rates.
• Paknejad for failing to supply fuel to power plants.
• Aliabadi for recurring power outages.
• Meydari for his inability to improve workers’ livelihoods or reduce unemployment.

It’s worth noting that these issues are not new. The newly formed government has inherited longstanding shortages and structural problems compounded by years of sanctions and ineffective governance.

The Economic Interests Behind the Push

The website Alef suggested that the underlying motive for the impeachment efforts may stem from the economic interests of powerful insiders. As the rial fell sharply, the government restricted access to cheap dollars that were previously available to influential importers, many of whom are well-connected figures within Iran.

Alef stated, “Eliminating the special lower exchange rate for importers and exporters, along with requiring exporters to repatriate their hard currency earnings to Iranian banks, has fueled the impeachment effort.” The website backed its claims with statements from government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani and Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, who defended Hemmati’s foreign exchange policy reforms.

Reaction from Reformist Media

Reformist media outlets, including Rouydad24, have been critical of the impeachment motions, arguing that they arise during a time of severe economic and foreign policy crises in Iran. They have also pointed out heightened international tensions in the region, questioning the motivations behind the impeachment.

One notable criticism raised by Rouydad24 was, “Why was former President Raisi’s economy minister never impeached, even after a 120-percent rise in exchange rates?” This highlights the perceived inconsistency in the application of political accountability in Iranian governance.

Speaker Ghalibaf has labeled the impeachment efforts as a “political show by hardliners,” while ultraconservative media like Vatan Emrooz assert that “impeachments are a way of making the government accountable.” This ongoing political drama continues to unfold, and its implications for Iran’s governance and economic stability remain to be seen.