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Former diplomat Kourosh Ahmadi and regime-affiliated analyst Meysam Zohourian debate the FATF issue in a clip posted on a state-affiliated YouTube channel on March 28, 2025
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The Iranian regime’s officials are increasingly displaying paranoia and fear over a convergence of escalating crises, both internal and external. From economic collapse to social unrest and mounting international pressure, the regime’s struggle to contain these threats is becoming more desperate by the day.
On March 29, the regime’s Attorney General, Mohammad Movahedi, acknowledged the regime’s concerns over opposition activity on social media. “The dissidents and the deceived are trying to disrupt the psychological security of society both in virtual and real space,” Movahedi warned during a speech to the regime’s prosecutors.
He instructed prosecutors to “take decisive and deterrent action against those who move in the direction of the enemies.” Movahedi emphasized the importance of “precise monitoring and control over suspicious activities to prevent any kind of insecurity and disorder in society.”
#Iran News: Former Intelligence Interrogator Warns of Nationwide #Protests Amid Crisishttps://t.co/BwiYtEOgUe
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 30, 2025
He also called for “cooperation between security and judicial institutions to identify and deal with individuals who seek to create insecurity,” demanding “vigilance and rapid response from prosecutors against any threat to public order.”
On the same day, state-affiliated analyst Meysam Zohourian explained why Tehran continues to refuse compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). “Joining the FATF, given the heavy sanctions imposed by the United States, will not solve Iran’s economic problems. The definition of ‘terrorism’ under the FATF’s standards is shaped by Western countries, especially the United States, in a way that can classify support for regional resistance groups as financing terrorism,” Zohourian stated.
He further elaborated, “Implementing FATF standards would impose serious restrictions on financing and supporting regional resistance groups, which contradicts the state’s foreign policy. Additionally, it requires accepting international supervision, which would affect some of the country’s economic and financial activities.”
#Iranian Officials and Analysts Sound Alarm Over Imminent Social Explosionhttps://t.co/Ag4aIychti
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 29, 2025
Meanwhile, the state-controlled news agency ISNA expressed alarm over the looming threat of the “snapback” mechanism under UN Security Council Resolution 2231. “Resolution 2231’s expiration and the lifting of sanctions resolutions in October 2025 are the only notable fruits of the JCPOA and a decisive period for the regime. The submission of the snapback by the Europeans to the U.S. could be a tempting bargaining chip for them to obtain continued American support for Ukraine and their membership in NATO,” ISNA warned.
The report added, “If the snapback mechanism is activated, all United Nations sanctions against Iran will be reinstated, and the country’s economic conditions will be under more pressure than ever before.” ISNA noted that analysts believe Europe aims to force Tehran to alter its behavior through this leverage.
Ali Majedi, a former Iranian ambassador to Germany, Japan, and Brazil, admitted on March29 that the regime’s trade relations with East Asian countries have significantly declined. “East Asia simply doesn’t work with us. No country other than China in East Asia buys oil from us. Developed countries like Japan and South Korea, and recently India, which is the world’s fifth-largest economy, have minimized their trade relations with Iran. Our political and economic relations with a country like Japan are practically suspended,” Majedi admitted.
Khamenei Rejects Talks—But His Advisors Say Otherwise. Why?https://t.co/3qvPRGr2Pw
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 28, 2025
He continued, “International sanctions and economic instability are the main factors behind the decline of Iran’s interactions with these countries. Foreign investors, due to the lack of a clear economic outlook, are not interested in entering the Iranian market. Without changing the overall policies, improving economic relations with Asian powers will be difficult.”
Meanwhile, on March 24, Behruz Mohebbi, a member of the Budget and Planning Commission, hinted at potential ministerial impeachments within the regime. “The fourteenth government calls itself a government of national consensus, but what we see at the lower levels doesn’t match the government’s slogan,” Mohabi said.
When asked which ministers might face impeachment, he stated, “I believe the conditions of the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Education are such that they might be impeached in 2025.”
#Iran News: Regime-Aligned Insider Warns of “Strategic Madness” Amid Reported U.S. Ultimatumhttps://t.co/msgWvqqdMd
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 24, 2025
However, these sham impeachments do not change anything in the lives of the people. Runaway inflation, widespread poverty, rampant corruption, educational crises, and a lack of healthcare facilities remain persistent. These impeachments only demonstrate the power struggle within the clerical regime, not a solution to the people’s problems.
Furthermore, Kourosh Ahmadi, a former regime diplomat, expressed deep concern over the failure of nuclear negotiations, warning that the collapse of talks would have severe consequences. “There is consensus that the upcoming year will be difficult. We lost the four-year period of Biden’s presidency. Robert Malley, the U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, was the focal point of America’s efforts to revive the JCPOA, but we failed to finalize the negotiations. If this opportunity had not been missed, we wouldn’t even be talking about the snapback mechanism or its activation today. There is no doubt that if no agreement is reached, sanctions will intensify, and the snapback mechanism will certainly be activated. We will face a range of problems in the coming year,” Ahmadi warned on March 25.
The convergence of these crises reflects a regime increasingly besieged by external threats and internal fractures. As international pressure mounts and domestic dissatisfaction grows, Tehran’s response appears to be one of desperation and escalating repression.