Iran International
Hardline media in Tehran have launched an unusual defence of President Massoud Pezeshkian, accusing the moderates who backed his rise of undermining him and even pushing for his resignation.
In a striking reversal of Iran’s traditional political alignments, the Revolutionary Guards-linked Javan and the Supreme Leader–affiliated Kayhan criticized Pezeshkian’s performance but directed their harshest attacks at centrist papers and politicians, portraying them as fickle, self-interested and destabilizing.
“A group of reformists have been threatening the President and calling on him and his aides to resign,” Javan asserted in an editorial on Wednesday. “There is no justification for their behavior other than spite and self-interest.”
The paper did not name anyone but was clearly alluding to two former lawmakers and prominent centrists, Hossein Marashi and Elias Hazrati, whose affiliated outlets recently circulated stories about an alleged resignation.
“Reformists are part and parcel of the Islamic Republic and will never find a system more useful for their own interests,” the editorial quipped.
‘Sign of desperation’
Kayhan similarly positioned itself as the reluctant messenger, presenting its criticism of Pezeshkian as quotes from reformist outlets rather than as its own.
The hardline daily — whose chief is appointed by the Supreme Leader’s office — began by faulting “inaction” and “misguided policies” in the administration, while rebuking the public for failing to repent and pray for rain amid a worsening water crisis.
Then came the maneuver: instead of attacking Pezeshkian directly, Kayhan attributed the harshest lines to Iran’s foremost moderate dailies.
“Saying the truth without offering a solution can disrupt people’s peace of mind,” it quoted Ham Mihan’s critique of Pezeshkian. And from Sharq: “The President should talk about solutions and decisions rather than merely presenting problems… The way he spoke revealed the executive body’s desperation.”
‘Got it wrong’
Kayhan also mocked government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani for sending a “heart” emoji to reporters, repeating Ham Mihan’s jab: “You are not a stand-up comedian!”
Hardline outlets regularly attack presidents, especially those backed by moderates. But they appear to have found a new tactic: using reformist criticism as a shield, undermining Pezeshkian while posing as protectors against what they call disloyalty.
Javan closed with a final swipe that hit two birds at once: the president and his supporters. “Someone preparing to resign does not kick the ball like that,” it wrote, referring to viral images of Pezeshkian visiting the camp of Iran’s national football team.
“Mean-spirited politicians who hope for his resignation have got it wrong.”
