Rouhani’s ‘failures’ give him tough time in office

Iran vs US at ICJ

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani is clinging to power but finds himself under attack from all sides — conservatives, reformists and the street — as he prepares for a grilling in Parliament on Wednesday.

The US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and Washington’s reimposition of sanctions have already battered the Iranian economy, and critics say it has exposed the failures of Rouhani’s five years in power. For the first time, lawmakers have summoned Rouhani to Parliament to face questions over the collapsing value of the Iranian currency, over stubbornly high unemployment and corruption. Lawmakers have already impeached his labour and economy ministers this month, and are seeking further scalps.

They have the power to impeach Rouhani, though he is protected by the fact supreme leader Ayatollah Ali THE HAGUE: Iran will argue on Monday against renewed sanctions imposed by the US, as a bitter legal battle between Tehran and Washington opens before the UN’s top court. US President Trump reimposed a wave of tough unilateral sanctions on Iran three weeks ago, bringing back into effect harsh penalties that had been lifted under a landmark 2015 agreement. A second round of measures is to come into effect in early November, targeting Iran’s valuable oil and energy sector.

Khamenei said he should see out his term to 2021, despite his own harsh criticisms of the President’s policies.