BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, November 12, 2024, Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director
A day after the U.S. presidential election results were announced, as pundits worldwide began assessing potential shifts in Washington’s approach toward Tehran, the Iranian regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei made a rare public appearance, signaling a deepening unease within Iran’s leadership.
Khamenei met with the Assembly of Experts to discuss his succession plans and doubled down on his agenda to maintain Iran’s proxy influence across the region. He sent a clear message that his policies would persist, undeterred by developments abroad.
Khamenei, whose public statements are often carefully crafted for domestic and international audiences, outlined his preferred criteria for future leaders: “One of the most essential conditions is an unwavering commitment to the revolution’s path and goals.”
In an implicit acknowledgment of rising opposition across the Middle East to Tehran’s proxy forces, Khamenei stated, “Some believe Hezbollah has weakened. But they are mistaken. Hezbollah remains strong, bolstered by its fighters, spiritual resolve, and unwavering morale. Even if prominent leaders like Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah and Seyyed Hashem Safieddine are no longer with us, Hezbollah’s structure is intact.”
Khamenei’s attempt to project resilience and defiance shows his regime’s weakening stature as internal fractures within Iran widen. Public discontent over his policies—escalating economic crises, regional warmongering, and domestic political repression—has turned the country into a powder keg.
Iranians are seeking to overthrow the clerical regime and work toward the establishment of a free, democratic republic in Iran. The international community must stand by them and end the policy of appeasement once and for all. A fully implemented policy of maximum economic and diplomatic pressure, including the blacklisting of the IRGC and the MOIS, and implementing their designations would be a meaningful first step.