Iran Bans Officials From Defying Supreme Leader's Policies

Iran’s Interior Ministry has issued a sweeping ban on government officials voicing opinions that run counter to the policies of the supreme leader and the ruling establishment. The move comes as reports of internal political discord and conflicting stances have increasingly circulated in recent weeks.

Ali Zini Vand, the ministry’s spokesman, told reporters that “the centrality of decision-making in the country, especially on issues of war and peace, lies with the leader,” referring to Mojtaba Khamenei. He stressed that “it is not befitting for anyone in a position of responsibility—whether a governor, a deputy, or a platform holder—to make statements that violate the guiding policies of the system.”

Monitoring and Crackdown on Dissent

The opposition outlet Iran International quoted Zini Vand as saying that the supreme leader is “informed, holds the reins, and manages the leadership process.” The spokesman’s remarks were also carried by Iran’s Ana news agency, which reported him saying that “extensive and precise monitoring of internal security and borders is underway.” He added that the president held a lengthy meeting with provincial governors, while the interior minister conducted individual sessions with each governor to explain their duties.

Addressing the issue of protests, Zini Vand claimed that “the country’s conditions are exceptional” and that “no violations will be allowed, and the exploitation of protests to turn them into riots will never be permitted.” He asserted that “the West is intensely focused on exhausting social cohesion and striking at societal unity, which sometimes appears through certain slogans. This certainly does not align with what the leader wants, nor does it serve the country’s interests.”

Unity Under the Supreme Leader

The spokesman outlined that official policy centers on “the strict prohibition of any slogans, statements, or actions that would harm internal unity, cause a rift in society, or weaken cohesion among its segments.” He declared that “the axis of our unity is the supreme leader. We must not try to get ahead of him or lag behind him. He has clear strategies regarding national unity, and if we make them our reference, we will not face problems, God willing.”

Zini Vand also noted that “networks that infiltrated the country in cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies and hostile entities have been dismantled and neutralized,” adding that “there is very significant control over this file, and we have precise statistics in this regard.”

Israeli assessments have indicated that Mojtaba Khamenei is leading a front opposed to any settlement with Washington.