Iran Dismisses Parliamentarians Who Opposed Negotiations with the US
The Iranian parliament has dismissed Ebrahim Rezai and Mahmoud Nabavian from their senior positions in the National Security Committee. Both officials were known for their vocal opposition to talks with Washington.
Anyone following the account of senior Iranian official Ebrahim Rezai on X has noticed a significant change in his job description in recent days. He is no longer the spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian parliament, but just another one of its members.
Rezai is known for belonging to the radical wing of the Iranian leadership, frequently making harsh statements against Israel, the United States, and diplomatic negotiations. According to reports, this stance led to his removal. On July 14, the opposition channel "Iran International" reported that the Iranian parliament had dismissed two officials from their senior positions in the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee for criticizing negotiations with the US. This occurred just one day after the parliament reconvened following a four-month hiatus.
Along with Rezai, the deputy chairman of the committee, Mahmoud Nabavian, was also dismissed. Iranian reports suggest these changes "send signals that the parliament wants the committee's positions to be balanced and supportive of negotiations."
Threats and Criticism of the President
Despite his dismissal, Rezai continues to issue radical statements. On August 1, he wrote on X that "the response to a possible enemy attack will not be limited to the Persian Gulf region," threatening to strike all enemy bases. He has also criticized Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, arguing that managerial weaknesses in the economic field are harming the country's military achievements.
Rezai, born in 1982, holds a doctorate in communications and has previously worked for major news agencies including "Mehr," "IRNA," and "Fars."
"Khamenei's Secret Letter"
Regarding the second dismissed official, Mahmoud Nabavian, reports indicate he repeatedly claimed that any agreement with Washington would be a total loss for Iran. He also criticized the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Nabavian accused political rivals of attempting a "coup" and read excerpts on state television that he claimed were from a "secret letter from the Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei" regarding negotiations. According to him, Khamenei opposed the talks and set conditions such as securing compensation from the US and maintaining exclusive control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the annual leadership vote, Ebrahim Azizi remains the chairman of the committee, while Hassan Ghashghavi has been elected as the new spokesperson, replacing Rezai.
