As Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was meeting with a group of poets last summer, he reportedly addressed the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati using a “special tone.” Principlist outlets quote Khamenei as having said, “We have many things to tell you; many serious things.”

One year later, Jannati is on the verge of being impeached. Most recently, 18 Principlist lawmakers criticized his ministry’s orders to local media to refrain from negative coverage of the nuclear deal with six world powers and demanded an explanation from Jannati himself.

Khamenei’s comments last summer were not his first expression of concern about cultural policies. Two years ago, at a meeting with members of the Assembly of Experts, he expressed “worry” about cultural issues and requested that officials “be attentive to what they do,” since “in cultural issues, one cannot be careless.” And in an unexpected meeting with the Cabinet last summer, he stated that “cultural mistakes and errors cannot be easily compensated” and that it is therefore necessary that “in the cultural arena, the establishment’s policies be clearly understood and implemented."

Notably, Khamenei did not take part in the annual book fair in Tehran. The exhibition, held at the grand Mosalla Mosque grounds, is a major event on the cultural calendar. Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, Khamenei’s chief of staff, said that Khamenei’s “heavy workload and numerous responsibilities” have left no time for an appearance. Principlists interpreted his absence as a sign of opposition to the administration’s cultural policies.