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Tehran’s city council is in the throes of a significant internal conflict, as factions aligned with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei clash over control, influence, and the city’s budget. This battle, while internal, has erupted into a public spectacle, revealing deep divisions within the regime.
Mehdi Chamran, President of Tehran’s City Council, addressed rumors about Mayor Alireza Zakani’s potential dismissal. Chamran stated, “If council members were in favor of Zakani’s removal, they would have agreed to his departure. Since they haven’t, it means they are not in favor.” He emphasized that Zakani should continue his duties, asserting, “Zakani’s departure in the final year of the council’s term is meaningless.”
Chamran further accused detractors of trying to undermine significant projects completed during the council’s term. However, a petition campaign for Zakani’s dismissal, nearing 200,000 signatures, reflects growing public discontent. Environmentalists, civil activists, and urban specialists criticize Zakani for his handling of urban development, alleging tree felling, ambiguous contracts with China, park constructions, and nepotistic appointments.
Despite these pressures, Zakani remains defiant. He has launched a counter-campaign, rallying supporters within the council, including influential members like Parviz Sarvari and Mehdi Chamran, who have staunchly defended him. Chamran dismissed the criticisms as “side issues” that should be avoided to prevent the council’s dissolution, akin to the fate of the first council.
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Power Struggle Intensifies Over #Tehran Mayoral Seat Amid Allegations of Corruptionhttps://t.co/xCRvBK0AuF— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 16, 2024
State media reports suggest some council members might collectively resign to force Zakani’s removal. Zakani, who once envisioned himself as a future presidential candidate, now clings to his mayoral position through various tactics, including showcasing his purported achievements in transportation and social welfare during a recent government session.
The state-affiliated newspaper Ham-Mihan, linked to Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Khamenei, opined that Zakani should resign respectfully. The threat of mass resignation by ten council members, citing Zakani’s numerous warnings over the past three years, has put the council on the brink of dissolution.
Notably, Narges Soleimani, daughter of slain IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, has been a vocal critic. She stated, “The city was better managed without senior managers,” a pointed jab at Zakani’s administration. Mehdi Eghrarian, another council member, suggested that discussions about Zakani’s replacement were already underway, mentioning that both a council member and a cabinet member of President Raisi were considered potential replacements.
Eghrarian also criticized Zakani’s three-year tenure, citing significant missteps. Public discontent has also grown due to actions like constructing mosques in parks, intentionally drying trees, and dismantling bike paths, which have angered Tehran residents.
Amidst these tensions, some council members have attempted indirect negotiations with Zakani to persuade him to resign, thus avoiding the formalities and potential fallout of impeachment. According to Etemad Online, council member Naser Amani acknowledged the public campaign for Zakani’s removal, stating, “We respect the campaign from parts of Tehran’s community that calls for Zakani’s removal.”
Who is Alireza Zakani, Corrupt Militiaman Turned #Tehran Mayorhttps://t.co/otCy10wxTe
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Zakani has dismissed the petition and the council’s ongoing sessions as “illegal,” calling the allegations “100 percent false.” He contended that the council has a minority faction that expresses opposing views.
However, his critics, including former allies of Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, see the petition as a political opportunity. They accuse Zakani of corruption and incompetence, citing his controversial urban policies and alleged favoritism.
In a council session, Naser Amani exposed widespread corruption within Tehran’s municipality. “My knowledge of Zakani’s anti-corruption efforts is extensive, but unfortunately, it is in reverse. In Tehran’s municipality, contrary to Zakani’s claims, only the weak are targeted, not the big offenders. They target those who are victims of the municipality’s corrupt system.”
The ongoing power struggle within Tehran’s municipality highlights the deep divisions within the clerical regime. As factions vie for control, the future of Mayor Alireza Zakani and the city council remains uncertain. The unfolding infighting continues to captivate public and political attention, reflecting broader issues of governance and corruption within the regime. As Mehdi Chamran noted, “Zakani’s departure in the final year of the council’s term is meaningless,” yet the public outcry and particularly the public view of the entire clerical rule suggest otherwise.
