Six Ministers Await Impeachment?

Rooz Online

Merely two weeks after Iran’s minister of science Reza Farajidana was removed from office by a parliamentary vote, it appears that the country’s hardline principlists who are still rejoicing at that event are now focusing on removing a number of other cabinet ministers in Hassan Rouhani’s administration.

There has been public and private chatter to dismiss the minister of Islamic guidance Ali Janati, the minister of the interior Rahmani Fazli, and the minister of telecommunications Mahmud Vaezi. But Majlis deputies have raised criticism of other cabinet ministers as well and these include foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and minister of mines Mohammad-Reza Nematzadeh.

In one recent notice, Kazem Sedighi a Tehran Friday prayer imam asked Rouhani’s administration “to get the message from the impeachment of the minister of science.” He added, “A government that cannot align itself despite the guidance of a leader such as the leader of the revolution (i.e., ayatollah Khamenei) is doomed.”

A member of the conservative but influential clerical association Jame Rohaniyat Mobarez (Combatant Clergy Association) also warned about some of Rouhani’s ministers. “Some cabinet ministers and governors are not in line with the ideals of the government and the regime” which is why Rouhani “must change his ministers, in addition to implementing his promises,” he said. “Rouhani must educate the minister of science and enlighten the minister of Islamic guidance.”

Adding on to these remarks, Majlis deputy Ali Iranpoor announced that three lists were circulating in the Majlis for signatures to summon and vote on the confidence of the minister of interior Rahmani Fazli. “The list that is now with the representatives of the province of Isfahan already has 22 signatures, while the other lists have over 40 signatures,” he warned. According to him these three lists had been prepared by representatives from Isfahan, the northern and the western provinces. He further said that the summons and vote on Rahmani Fazli was not political, as were the two other petitions. “If you take a look at the summons you will note that they are related to regional and executive problems,” he elaborated.

Despite the threats, Rouhani seems determined. After his minister of science was voted out last month, he stressed that the policies of the administration would not change.

In addition to these three petitions, there was also talk last week of the possibility of impeaching the minister of telecommunication Mahmoud Vaezi after his agency announced plans to raise the fees for high speed internet and ayatollah Makarem Shirazi’s objection to this.

Rouhani’s allies say the minister of science was removed over two weeks ago because he had revealed the names of individuals inside Ahmadinejad’s government and some Majlis deputies who had unlawfully received education scholarships. Rouhani appointed former a former two-time minister of education Mohammad Ali Najafi to replace Farajidana. Najafi is an active politician and briefly attended MIT in late 1970s.