Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told lawmakers that continuing the legacy of Qasem Soleimani requires placing the nation above factional interests and making the resolution of daily problems for citizens the overriding priority. Speaking during the parliamentary session on 10 Dey, Ghalibaf paid tribute to the late commander and argued that his defining quality was an ability to see opportunity amid crisis and to act decisively for the public good.
Prioritise Iran: Parliament urges unity over factionalism
Ghalibaf said that following Soleimani’s example means dedicating effort to the people and to the ideals of the Islamic Revolution, and explicitly urged representatives to put national matters ahead of party, group or personal gain. His remarks set the tone for a session in which several deputies voiced sharp criticism of the government’s economic strategy and its management of appointments.
Several MPs took the floor to highlight the daily pressures facing ordinary Iranians. Ali Asghar Baqerzadeh warned that soaring prices have left families struggling and asked whether the administration had delivered on campaign pledges to reduce poverty, tame inflation and rebuild public trust. He told the president that this moment was a test of action rather than rhetoric.
Other deputies pointed to specific policy shortcomings. Zeynab Ghaisari accused officials of ignoring parliamentary advice and reintroducing controversial nominations, while representatives from the industrial and agricultural committees decried an apparent stagnation in capital investment projects. The budget for 1405 drew particular ire, with MPs describing it as inflationary, opaque and inadequate for protecting living standards.
On economic remedies, parliamentarians pressed for root‑cause solutions rather than short‑term measures. Hojjatoleslam Salman Zakir called for serious interventions to stabilise the currency and the gold market, warning that repeated surges in dollar and gold prices would erode any temporary increases in wages. Mahmoud Taheri and others urged the government to target tax evasion rather than increasing the burden on ordinary taxpayers.
Technical proposals also featured in the debate. Mohammad Rostami, a specialist in power generation, highlighted large energy inefficiencies and argued that completing the steam phases of existing gas‑fired power plants could add some 7,500 megawatts to the national grid while creating tens of thousands of jobs. Rostami also pointed to the vast quantities of associated gas currently flared in oilfields and said exploiting that resource would deliver energy, export revenues and employment.
Lawmakers repeatedly raised the plight of pensioners, teachers, healthcare workers and security personnel, insisting wage adjustments must reflect real inflation. Several MPs described the government as relying too much on short‑term fixes such as one‑off transfers or modest salary increases rather than pursuing structural reforms that would stabilise prices and boost production.
The parliamentary exchange underlined a broader demand for accountable governance: better appointments, greater transparency in budgeting, and concrete plans to curb inflation and stimulate investment. While the debate was sharply critical in places, its thrust was constructive — urging a policy shift from symbolic gestures towards measurable action to improve living standards and restore public confidence.
How the executive responds in the weeks ahead will determine whether these parliamentary warnings translate into reforms that could strengthen Iran’s domestic stability and its capacity to engage economically with international partners.
Key Takeaways:
- Parliament leader Mohamed Bagher Ghalibaf urges lawmakers to “prioritise Iran” over party or factional interests and to follow the example of Qasem Soleimani in public service.
- MPs criticised government economic policy, citing runaway inflation, inadequate pensions and questionable appointments, and demanded practical measures to ease household burdens.
- Lawmakers proposed structural fixes including tackling currency and gold market volatility, combating tax evasion, resuming steam-phase projects in gas-fired power plants, and harnessing flared gas to increase energy output and revenues.
