Two important political figures who have been supportive of President Hassan Rouhani's domestic and foreign policies have begun to sound the alarm on the country’s economy and lingering issues with the comprehensive nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers. In an interview on Iranian television July 14, parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said, “At the moment, the economic downturn in the country is very serious.” The day before, Expediency Council head Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who has been an advocate of improved relations with the United States, said the American side has broken promises in the removal of sanctions.

The statements by the two Rouhani allies made headlines in conservative media outlets, which have been hammering the president for his inability to deliver on his economic promises. In his latest address, Rouhani defended the nuclear deal, arguing that the alternative would have been more sanctions and possibly even war. Had there been no deal, “today the sale of oil would be at zero,” Rouhani said at the one-year anniversary of the agreement's signing.

With one year left in his current term, Rouhani recently made two changes at the vice presidential level. Spokesman and deputy Interior Minister Hossein Ali Amiri was appointed vice president for parliamentary affairs. He replaced Majid Ansari, who was appointed vice president for legal affairs. The previous vice president for legal affairs, Elham Aminzadeh, was made a special adviser to the president.

Reformist Shargh Daily reported, “There still has been no special or clear reason stated by the administration for the changes.” Vakil-e Melat reported that in his final year in office, Rouhani finds himself caught between conservative critics who are using the country’s economic situation to attack him and Reformists who want changes within the Cabinet. Ansari, a Reformist political figure, had recently criticized the president’s media team. Vakil-e Melat reported that pressure within the administration to close ranks was responsible for Ansari’s demotion, and that more changes are coming.