Rouhani’s Second Term Continuation of Political and Economic Repression

For those who voted for current President Hassan Rouhani, it is possible that they believed it would mean more changes and the moderation of the ruling regime. According to Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Rouhani would try in his second term, as in the past, through deceit and hollow postures to present himself as the key to the problems, however, this would only give rise to further crises and tensions within the regime.

She also believes that Rouhani would be rapidly discredited when faced with people’s expectations and demands, as massive economic and social destructions along with political suppression would continue. Rouhani neither wants, nor is able to seriously alter the foundations, structure, or behavior of this historically backward regime.

In an attempt to knock out his opponent during the election race, Rouhani acknowledged that the ruling faction “during 38 years only knew how to execute and imprison people”. Khamenei’s reaction to this revelation and threatened him with a “slap”, he retreated immediately and announced in a public gathering that he is willing to kiss the hand of the “exulted leader” dozens of times.

“This is, of course, not unusual from Rouhani, who for the past 38 years has held the highest positions in the regime’s security and military apparatus in domestic suppression and war mongering. As his rivals have noted, he was the one who called for the public hanging of conspirators during Friday prayers right from the beginning. In this light, portraying him as a moderate figure bears no color. Those who adhere to this notion must be challenged by asking them to make him unveil the true number of victims of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners and details of their cases, respect human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of political parties, and freedom of political prisoners and pull out from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, and Afghanistan,” said Rajavi.

Rouhani openly declared on February 8, 2016, that the regime’s presence in Syria and Iraq was used as a lever to gain concessions during nuclear talks. “If our forces did not fight in Baghdad, Samarra, Falluja, and Ramadi, and if they did not help the Syrian government in Damascus and Aleppo, we would not have had any security in order to be able to conduct the negotiations so well,” said Rouhani.

Yet this president’s past four years have only brought about further suppression, executions, poverty and injustice during his presidency in the past four years. Funds gained as a result of the nuclear agreement were used to fuel wars in the region and increase military and security spending. This means that the people of Iran continue to live with the burden of a stagnant economy, inflation and high unemployment.

“The only solution to Iran’s problem is the overthrow of the religious tyranny by the Iranian people and the Resistance; people’s freedom and sovereignty instead of the clerical rule,” said Rajavi.