Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has derided hard-liners in his country who are critical of his style of governance and his attempt to reach out to the West.
Speaking in a live state television broadcast on April 29, Rouhani said his hard-line critics do not speak for Iran.
Rouhani has faced a backlash stemming from rising prices of fuel, utilities, and basic foods. It is increasingly coming under attack from Irans ultraconservatives
Rouhani did not list examples or name any specific factions who are critical of his rule.
But he said his critics should reveal their political identities and "speak on behalf of their own faction," rather than hiding behind "the Iranian nation" mantra.
Hard-liners oppose Rouhanis efforts to work toward a compromise on Iran's nuclear work, which Western powers suspect is aimed at secretly trying to build nuclear weapons.