Iranian hard-liners in parliament go after Rouhani’s team

TEHRAN, Iran — Fifty-three members of Iran’s parliament have summoned Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to explain his comments that the United States can “wipe out Iran’s defense systems with just one bomb” while 20 members of parliament have gone further and asked President Hassan Rouhani to remove the foreign minister from his post. While Zarif was attempting to demonstrate that Iran’s strength comes not from its military power but from its people, conservative members of parliament are using this occasion to try to rein in the foreign minister in what is becoming an increasing assertive parliament.

Fewer than four months after the administration took office, some in the Iranian parliament, mostly dominated by the Principlists, have begun to question and criticize Rouhani ministers and have even begun the impeachment process for one minister.