TEHRAN -Iran´s President Hassan Rouhani is clinging to power but findshimself under attack from all sides — conservatives, reformists and thestreet — as he prepares for a grilling in parliament on Tuesday.

The US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and worldpowers and Washington´s reimposition of sanctions have already battered theIranian economy, and critics say it has exposed the failures of Rouhani´sfive years in power.

For the first time, lawmakers have summoned Rouhani to parliament to facequestions over the collapsing value of the Iranian currency, overstubbornly high unemployment and corruption.

Lawmakers have already impeached his labour and economy ministers thismonth, and are seeking further scalps.

They have the power to impeach Rouhani himself, though he is protected bythe fact that Iran´s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he shouldsee out his term to 2021, despite his own harsh criticisms of thepresident´s policies.

*- Conservatives -*

Despite his dim prospects, Rouhani still has the backing of moderateconservatives, including powerful parliament speaker Ali Larijani.

But many in the hardline establishment opposed his negotiations with theWest and feel vindicated by the unravelling of the nuclear deal.

They have led the charge against Rouhani´s cabinet, and were on Mondayseeking enough votes for impeachment proceedings against his industry andtransportation ministers.

“The best outcome for them is a lame duck president, as their chances willgo up for (the next election) in 2021,” said political journalist FereshtehSadeghi.

*- Reformists -*

As for the reformist faction, it was key to Rouhani´s election successes in2013 and 2017, seeing him as its best option after the movement wassuppressed in the wake of mass protests in 2009.

But Rouhani has failed to deliver on his promises of easing civilliberties, particularly his vow to release political prisoners and reducecensorship.

Reformists now fear being tarnished by their association with Rouhani andsome have broken ranks to slam the government´s performance.

“What have we done with this nation? We made them miserable and wretched,”said reformist MP Elias Hazrati as he voted in favour of impeaching EconomyMinister Masoud Karbasian on Sunday.

“No one believes Rouhani will reform anything anymore. He was just a toolfor the system, appearing to address people´s demands for change withoutreally changing anything,” said Clement Therme, Iran research fellow forthe International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

*- The street -*

On the back of popular support, Rouhani won emphatic victories in the pasttwo presidential polls.

Even with the Guardian Council barring almost all candidates, there wasgenuine enthusiasm for his plans to rebuild Iran´s foreign standing andattract investment.

With the key part of that strategy — the nuclear deal — in tatters, thesense of disillusionment on the streets of Tehran is now palpable.

Many wealthier Iranians are trying to leave, while poorer areas have seenregular, low-level strikes and protests that have occasionally turnedviolent.

The prices of essential goods are rising rapidly, and worse pain is to comewhen US sanctions on Iran´s vital oil sector return in November.

“Look at my breakfast. I can´t afford fruit anymore,” a motorbike deliveryman told AFP, holding up a can of lemonade and a piece of bread.

“We are afraid of this government, but there will be more protests.”

*- What next? -*

Rouhani´s problems reflect a basic contradiction of the Islamic republic,said Therme of IISS: elections are crucial to its legitimacy, but theIranian people vote for reforms that cannot be delivered.

“The supreme leader supports Rouhani going to the end of his second termbecause he wants stability,” said Therme.

“But he thinks that if Rouhani delivers on his policies, it will mean theend of the system,” particularly by opening the country to Western cultural”invasion”.

There had been talk of Rouhani as a possible successor to the ageingKhamenei, but he looks increasingly likely to follow the path of his twopredecessors in the presidency, Mohammad Khatami and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,who have been effectively silenced by the establishment.

“There´s nothing he can do. His hands are tied. All the focus will now goon 2021,” said political journalist Sadeghi. – APP/AFP