Irans Judiciary chief Sadegh Larijani delivered a direct response to statements of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a quick return of skirmishes and deep disputes among high-rank officials in Tehran. “Someone said that the judiciary body is summoning people due to its unemployment. If someone has to be unemployed then it is you, who have abandoned the country affairs four years ago and pursued the nuclear agreement as if Iran has no other problems and affairs,” Larijani stated. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani criticized, during his speech at the University of Tehran on Saturday, the imposed restrictions on former President Mohammad Khatami and mocked arresting some people close to him. “Maybe some bodies are unemployed and need to occupy themselves so they summon people,” he said. Rouhani demanded to reward all political blocs that took part in the elections, expressing annoyance at the way the authority is dealing with his followers. “In the name of political blocs, we created an unhealthy competition. They reward a bloc and punish the other. Is this an election?” he exclaimed. Addressing Rouhani, Larijani said that it is his duty to defend the judiciary body since it is of the regime elements, just the way he did when he defended the government in the past years. He added that fighting corruption is among the judiciary body goals but at the same time he pointed out that there are obstacles when it comes to fighting the economic corruption without providing further details. “Unfortunately, in corruption-related cases, once you summon someone, interest owners start causing personal and political tension,” Larijani stated. The Iranian Judiciary arrested Rouhani’s brother and advisor after announcing his victory in the presidential elections in May, before releasing him on a bail of EUR7.6 million. ​