Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday declared that he cannot enforce a law opposed by the Iranian people, marking his strongest stance yet against the hijab and chastity law backed by hardliners.

"I cannot enforce the chastity and hijab law because it creates problems for people, and I will not stand against the people," Pezeshkian said, according to a statement posted by his office on X (formerly Twitter).

His remarks come as hardliners continue to undermine his administration, having recently impeached Economy Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati and pressured Vice President for Strategic Affairs Javad Zarif into resigning.

The hijab law, postponed in December amid public backlash, proposes harsh penalties—including fines, imprisonment, flogging, and even the death penalty—for women defying veiling requirements.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and hardline factions have also rejected Pezeshkian’s efforts to engage Washington in talks aimed at alleviating Iran’s economic crisis.

The hijab crackdown reignited tensions that first erupted in September 2022 when Mahsa Jina Amini died in morality police custody, sparking the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests—one of the biggest challenges to Iran’s ruling establishment in recent years.