Iran\u2019s parliament voted on Tuesday to reject President Hassan Rouhani\u2019s explanations for economic hardship after a dramatic grilling on live TV, a sign his pragmatic faction is losing sway to hardline rivals as new U.S. sanctions begin to bite.<\/p>\n
Rouhani won two landslide elections on a platform of economic reform and opening Iran up to the outside world, and his pragmatic supporters have a majority in the parliament. But his reputation and political influence have taken a sharp hit as his promised economic gains have failed to materialize.<\/p>\n
His highest profile achievement was to negotiate the lifting of financial sanctions on Iran in a 2015 deal with world powers over its nuclear program, but U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out in May and Washington has re-imposed sanctions.<\/p>\n
Rouhani spoke out in parliament in defense of his economic record, blaming the country\u2019s woes on the U.S. sanctions rather than his team\u2019s management. But a majority of lawmakers voted to reject his explanation in four out of five areas.<\/p>\n
There were conflicting reports about what would follow from the vote: several Iranian news agencies said Rouhani\u2019s case would now be referred to the judiciary, although the spokesman for the parliamentary leadership, Behrouz Nemati, said lawmakers must hold further discussion before that would take place.<\/p>\n
The action in parliament is a further sign of how the Trump administration\u2019s decision to re-impose sanctions could affect Iran\u2019s leadership and its relationship with the outside world, potentially for decades to come.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s rulers have been divided between a pragmatic faction that aims for better international relations, and hardliners who are wary of reforms. Trump\u2019s decision to abandon the nuclear deal was opposed by U.S. allies in Europe, who argued that he undermined Rouhani and strengthened the hands of the hardliners.<\/p>\n
While Rouhani and his cabinet run Iran\u2019s day-to-day affairs, ultimate authority lies with the Supreme Leader, 79-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in power since 1989. Weakening the pragmatists now could affect the choice of Khamenei\u2019s successor.<\/p>\n
For now, Rouhani\u2019s own position appears safe. The judiciary could determine that he broke the law and parliament has the power to impeach him, but experts on Iranian politics say power struggles are more likely to play out indirectly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe parliament\u2019s move is politically motivated and indicates that tensions would increase in the Islamic Republic in coming months,\u201d Saeed Laylaz, an Iranian economist, told Reuters by telephone from Tehran.<\/p>\n
\u201cIranian political factions have always used international issues to pursue their domestic gains,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
After the sacking of the two ministers this month, Tasnim news agency reported that 70 lawmakers had signed a motion to impeach a third: the Minister of Industry, Mines and Business.<\/p>\n
Rouhani has bowed to pressure and fired the head of the central bank. A deputy central bank governor was arrested by the judiciary on corruption charges in a crackdown that also saw foreign exchange dealers rounded up.<\/p>\n