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Revolutionary Guards and Politics Under Rouhani

Revolutionary Guards and Politics

Under Rouhani
15.08.2016

Since its foundation in 1979,The Army of the Guardians of the

Islamic Revolution (Revolutionary Guards, IRGC) has been
regarded as one of the “fundamental” pillars of Iranian politics.
Revolutionary Guards, who are constitutionally charged with
“safeguarding the revolution and its achievements”, have always
involved in politics. IRGC, like other security institutions in Iran,
 is directly subordinated to Supreme Leader of the Revolution EN
Ayatollah Hamanei and its relations with Iranian governments
have been practiced in different forms.IRGC’s political clout
gradually increased under the presidency of Mahmud
Ahmedinecad that generated a debate on “militarization” of the
Iranian ORSAM
home Home regime. Likewise, in the
library_books meantime,Events
Publications influence of IRGCalso
play_arrow Media
increased in economy due to the effects of sanctions imposed on
Iran for thenuclear
account_balance Education issue.
Contact

ORSAMIRGC’s role in/ Iranian

/ Publications politics
Foreign Policy and economy
Analyses / has been regarded as
one of the biggest challenges for Hassan Rouhani, who was
Revolutionary Guards and Politics Under Rouhani
elected as president in June 2013.There were some speculations
about the prospective tension between President Rouhani, who
has been known with pragmatism, and IRGC that has a rigid
ideological standing.So, how didrelations between President
Rouhani and Revolutionary Guards evolve in the intervening
three years?This study reviews relations between the Rouhani
government and IRGC.

Nuclear Deal, Iranian politics and Revolutionary Guards

Rouhani’sassociation with some reformist figures before and after

the elections, moderation and flexibility in foreign policy and his
discourses on economic liberalization drew IRGC’s reaction.
However, having forged close relations with security bureaucracy
and due to his stance in the “political center”, Rouhani did not
encounter opposition from IRGC.Indeed, Rouhani observed
balances while he was forming his cabinet and he did not give
place to “fervent” reformists. He appointed, formerIRGC
commanders, Hossein Dehghan as as Minister of Defense and Ali
Shamkhani as a secretary of Supreme National Security Council.

IRGC’s first criticism against President Rouhani came afterhis

phone conversationwith President Obama in September
2013.IRGCCommander, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari
said, “the president took a firm and appropriate position during
his stay” in New York,“but,” he added“just as he refused to meet
Obama, he should also have refused to speak with him on the
telephone.”

Nuclear negotiations that began in November 2013 between Iran

and the P5+1countrieswere criticized at times by news websites
and journals. When those criticisms became harsh, Rouhani stated
that “a small group has been busy with sabotages, baseless
accusations and lies.” He added that his government was well
 aware of each step of this group and wouldtake necessary EN
measures when the time was ripe. Shortly after Rouhani’s
statements, in November 2014, an article published in
Sahamnews, a pro-reformist news portal,claimed that Intelligence
Unit of IRGC stepped into action in order to overthrow the
RouhaniORSAM
home Home government. According
library_books to the aforementioned
Publications article,
Events play_arrow Media
Intelligence Unit of IRGC, in coordination with Isargaran
(Society Education
account_balance of Devotees of the Islamic Revolution), and former
Contact
officials at the time of Ahmedinecad government and some
ORSAMjournalists,
/ Publicationsset up “safe
/ Foreign Policy houses”
Analyses /in which anti-government
Revolutionary Guards and Politics Under Rouhani
propaganda activities was organized. It was suggested that
Rouhani gave information and submitted relevant documents
about this subject to LeaderHamanei at a private talk; but nothing
appeared publiclyabout this matter. Anyway, President Rouhani
said in a speech he gave in December 2015, “When weapons,
wealth and media are in control of a single institution, an
inevitable result would be corruption.” These comments ware
regarded by many pundits as criticism against IRGC.

While nuclear deal was coming to and end, IRGC took a cautious
stance. On the one hand, IRGC Commander Jafari appreciated
achievements and “selfless efforts” of the negotiating team, on the
other hand, he continued to remind redlines of the Iran. He drove
attention to controversial issues with related to the removal of
sanctions.

In a speech shortly after the parties agreed on the nuclear deal in

July 2015, Rouhani stated that even after the conclusion of deal,
Iran should preserve its prudence and moderation. He also said,
“we should not think that we can talk and move whatever we want
after the deal, and the others did not react to the change of our
course”.This statement drew a rebuff from IRGC Commander
Jafari, who said, “some people argues that we should decide our
activities in accordance with the will of enemy, and says we
cannot speak or move as we liked because the others would react.
It means, before anything else, questioning of independence and
honor of the regime.” He added that those people sitting in
important posts should speak in a “measured” way.

The battle of words between the government and IRGC has

continued over the meaning of the nuclear deal. Both President
Rouhani and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Zarifargued that “the
nuclear deal have liftedthe shadow of war over Iran and made it
more secure.” However,it is stated in various speeches of some
IRGC commanders that security of Iran has not been ensured by
means of negotiations and dialogue with enemy,but by the heroic
and altruistic resistance of the people and “deterrent power” of
 Iran.Jafaristressed that “the deal did not end or reduce hostility of EN
the United States towardstheIslamic Republic of Iran”, and he
claimed that the “enemy continuously attempts to infiltrate into
Iran.”Actually, these “warnings” are almost replica of various
statements of Khamenei.Indeed, Khameneihas been talking about
the possibility
home Home ORSAMof library_books
“infiltration Publications
of enemy intoEvents
Iran byplay_arrow
economicMedia
and
cultural means.” Soon after those warnings about “infiltration of
enemy”, Education
account_balance Intelligence Unit of IRGCarrested five journalists
Contact
allegedly for “being members of a network of influencedepended
ORSAMon America or
/ Publications Britain.”
/ Foreign PolicyPresident
Analyses / Rouhani reacted to these
Revolutionary Guards and Politics Under Rouhani
detentions. Rouhani said that security agents should not act like a
press judge and he called that warnings of the leader on the
“infiltration of foreigners” should not be over-exploited.

Another debate President Rouhani and IRGC Commander Jafari

that revolved around the essence of the nuclear deal took place in
the last April. In his speech for the occasion of Norouz(Iranian
New Year), Rouhani recalled the nuclear deal as an achievement
to be proud of the Iranian nation and he said that Iran should
alsoconclude“a national plan of action, a secondbarjam(the
Persian acronym for the nuclear deal)” to solve itspolitical,
economic and social problems.Leader Khamenei criticized these
statements at first. Subsequently, Major GeneralJafari said,
“Thenucleardeal has neverbeenconsidered a documentto be proud
of it, andpeoplereluctantlysupported [it]. Whatare the benefits of
the first deal, so that we are asking a second one?” In response to
these criticisms, Rouhani repeated that barjamis a political and
legal source of pride for Iranian nation and he reminded how
much the Iranian people were suffering under sanctions.He
statedthat Iran alsoneedssomeadditional time just as
“therestorationorreconstruction of a ruintakesome time. Only
three months have passed since the deal came into effect.”

Economic Activities of RG

Another source of disagreement between Revolutionary Guards

and the Rouhani government is the role of IRGC in economy.
Khatam-ol Anbiya Headquarter, engineering and construction unit
of IRGShas taken over critical infrastructure projects in Iran, built
roads, bridges, damsetc..The role of IRGC in economy gradually
increased under the presidency of Ahmadinejad, some companies
affiliated to the IRGC operated in wide spectrum from
construction, chemistry, to telecom, finance, energy, and
international trade.There are different estimations about the
overall share of IRGC in Iranian economy. IRGCSpokesman
 Ramezan Sharif stated that “only 10%” of construction projects in EN
Iran has been handled by the Revolutionary Guards.

Rouhani government is critical of economic activities of military

institutions because of the difficulty in inspecting them and
because itupsets the balances in the market. Besides, the
home Home ORSAM library_books Publications Events play_arrow Media
government is vowed toreinforce private sector, which requires
reductionEducation
account_balance of IRGCContactactivities in economy.However, President
Rouhani adopted a cautious rhetoricwith regard to the economic
ORSAMactivities of IRGC.
/ Publications Having
/ Foreign Policy admired
Analyses IRGC
/ for its contribution to
economy and defense of the country, he asked IRGC to fight
Revolutionary Guards and Politics Under Rouhani
against smuggling and get involve in major projects that are not
undertaken by private sector.Likewise, Mohammad
BagherNobaght, spokesman of the government, said that
economic activities of IRGC should be limited with fields in
which private sector has no interest or capacity to do.

A speech given by Rouhani on the Army Day (Rouz-e Artesh) in

April 2014 has drawn attention to this issue. He said that the army
has made great sacrifices in defense of the country, but did not ask
“its share from the nation and the elected government.” This
statement of Rouhani isregarded as a warning to IRGC thatwants
to maintain its economic activities in return for its sacrifices.

IRGCCommander Jafari acknowledged in September 2014 that

initially there were some doubts about the cooperation between
the Guards and the government on economic issues. However, he
added that the government was appreciatingIRGc’scapabilities in
construction industry and they were cooperating on that subject.
Nevertheless, economic activities of IRGC significantly declined
under the Rouhani government. Some operations ofIRGC-related
companies, who are no more able to take “luxurious tenders” has
been ceased. In return, Guardscommanders frequentlystated that
the government should “give priority” toIRGC and Basij, which
are ready to support the government in developing “resistance
economy.” Commander Jafari,in several occasions, however,
complained that the government does not utilize enough
experiences and proposals IRGC and Basij.

Foreign policy is not discussed

Despite their disagreements on economic and political issues, the

Rouhani government and the Revolutionary Guards have
apparently been in an intimate cooperation with regard to foreign
policy matters.The Rouhani government, whose first priority
 wassolution of the nuclear issue, has not questioned the role of EN
IRGC in regional policies of Iran. As a matter of fact, Iranian
policies towards Iraq and Syria have remained in the control of
IRGC. After the rise of ISIS in June 2014, as a critical threat to
Iraqi government, and consequently to Iran, IRGC and Iranian
government
home Home ORSAMreinforced their
library_books cooperation.
Publications EventsTheplay_arrow
government
Media
supported the logistical support and the advisory missions
providedEducation
account_balance by IRGCContact
in Iraq and Syria. Moreover, President
Rouhani said, “The courage of Sardar[Qassem] Soleimani is a
ORSAMsource of pride
/ Publications and Policy
/ Foreign power.”Having
Analyses / praised the Qods Force
Revolutionary Guards and Politics Under Rouhani
andprowess of IRGC, Rouhani said, “Today, IRGC not only
shoulders the burden of providing security to thecountry, but also
provides security to those countries seeking help from the Islamic
Iran and takes its place with its all capacity on those fields.”

The concord between the Rouhani government and Revolutionary

Guards on security and foreign policy issueshas also reflected in
the overall share of IRGC from the national budget, which has
gradually increased. It took 3,3 billion USD from the national
budget in 2013, which increased to 5 billion USD in 2014 and to
6.1 billion USD in 2015. There were some claims for the current
year arguing that the amount allocated to IRGC in the draft
version of the national budget prepared by the government was
diminished 20 percent. Notwithstanding the debate on the budget
cuts for IRGC, the overall defense budget of Iran has increased
almost 15 percent.

Consequently, there have been some public debates and

disagreements between President Rouhani and Revolutionary
Guards over a number of issues including the role of IRGC in
economy, nuclear talks and the meaning of the nuclear deal,
cultural and political issues. However, the Rouhani government
hasnot questionedforeign activities of IRGC and its role in Iranian
foreign policy. Therefore, despite numerous disagreements and
debates between Revolutionary Guards and the government,
foreign policy issues, especially Iranian policies towards the
Middle East were never brought into question.

This article was published in Ortadoğu Analiz journal with the

title of "Revolutionary Guards and Politics Under Rouhani”
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