Seminarians Protest Against Rouhani, Nuclear Deal During Revolution Anniversary

Hardline seminarians protesting against president Hassan Rouhani and the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. February 11, 2019

During the revolution anniversary rallies and marches in Iran on Monday, a group of seminarians turned an event into an anti-Rouhani, anti-government, anti-nuclear-agreement and anti-FATF protest.

The seminarians in the Shiite holy city of Qom were holding placards blaming President Hassan Rouhani and his administration of rising prices, corruption and agreeing to the 2015 nuclear deal, which they labeled as treason.

One slogan wished the Rouhani administration or the president himself not to be around by the time Iranian New Year arrives on March 21.

They also chanted slogans against Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, accusing him of sedition, ostensibly against the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Larijani who has been a politician loyal to Khamenei has lately been targeted by hardliners for unknown reasons. The only explanation can be the possibility of Larijani and Rouhani working together in the next presidential election in Iran. Some have speculated that Rouhani can become Supreme Leader after Khamenei while Larijani can get elected as president.

There were also placards and slogans against the nuclear agreement and the international watchdog Financial Action Task Force, FATF, which has put pressure on Iran to enact legislation against money laundering and financial support for terrorism.