Khamenei warns Rouhani against dividing society and hints at ouster

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has given an implicit warning to President Hassan Rouhani about what he called the polarisation and division of Iranian society. This was a reference to the reformists and moderates around Rouhani and the extreme right-wing loyal to the supreme leader.

Reformist websites believe Khamenei’s statements to be similar to the warnings issued against the first Iranian president elected after the revolution, Abolhassan Banisadr. He was ousted in 1980 due to disputes with the head of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist, and has been living in exile in Paris for four decades.

During a speech welcoming the heads of three authorities and senior Iranian officials on Monday, Khamenei reiterated that bilateral polarisation and dividing society into two is dangerous and will harm the country’s interests. He explained that drawing clear boundaries with the enemy will provide the foundation for national unity, adding that the officials must draw serious boundaries with foreign enemies and “their tails” within the country.

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Disputes have escalated from time to time between the supreme leader and the president, especially after the election of Rouhani for a second term in May. He won by a large margin against his competitor, Ebrahim Raisi, who was backed by Khamenei.

Rouhani also went against Khamenei’s decision to stop the implementation of the UNESCO 2030 education document which aims to guarantee equal learning opportunities for all. Extremists in Iran believe that this poses a threat to the values of the revolution by preventing the Basij Forces from recruiting students and providing equal education for both men and women.