Recent videos available online show a new situation in Iran, in the midst of global changes that are slated for the coming days and weeks. The videos are part of an Iranian media campaign that on the surface appears to be random, but on closer inspection reveals itself to be as carefully organized and planned as the hand-weaving of a carpet with the greatest precision. It comes as no surprise that Iran is known for its high quality and fame of its carpets as well.
It is evident that Iran needed to send a message to other countries and to its local audience that it is not interested in further escalation, despite a few bellicose statements here and there by some Iranians.
In the video below, Qods Force Commander IRGC General Esmail Qaani speaks at a Tehran University memorial to mark the one-year anniversary of the assassination of the previous Qods Force Commander Qasem Soleimani. He cautioned those who are responsible for the assassination of Soleimani that they are adding to the work of the “free people of the world.” He said there may be someone in the homes of those who killed him who will “repay” that crime in kind.
Some may argue that by refraining from making a direct threat, this statement implies that Iran does not want any escalation, while still calling for retaliation for Soleimani’s death, and that the purpose of video is to maintain credibility with Iranian students, who have always played an important role in the political life of the Islamic Republic.
Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas’ recent interview for Al Ghad TV channel in Arabic about Iran’s military readiness for a confrontation with the United States serves as an attempt to reach out to regional audiences that Iran’s military image is not crippled because of its economic constraints.
He went on to say that some Iranians are persuaded that going to war with the United States is the only way to get the Americans to lift economic sanctions against Iran.
This appears as an effort to reassure those who have been calling for a retaliatory operation for the killing of Soleimani; at the same time, it confirms that Iran dares not take any chances that might escalate the situation with the United States, at least while Trump is still in the White House.
The grotesque exaggeration of Iran’s military capabilities is commonly used to quell any internal opposition, as well as to keep the Gulf states on edge.
Iran’s decision to increase its uranium enrichment to 20% also demonstrates that Iran is willing to move forward with steps that appear to be further escalation, while hoping to return quickly to the deal that was signed by the Obama administration.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the Beirut port explosions, local voices in Lebanon calling for limitations on Hezbollah’s activities and power have gained momentum. Iran has used this Shiite militia to infiltrate Lebanon. The video below is an attempt to counter these anti-Hezbollah voices. A university professor claims that Lebanese leaders who seek French intervention to help Lebanon cope with its current economic and political crisis should be killed, while at the same time, he advocates isolating Lebanon from the West in order to keep it under Iranian dominance.
Here is another statement by Hamas leader Mahmoud Az-Zahar, about the Iranians’ generosity in supporting Gaza. It is a reminder of Iran’s fundamental role in maintaining what he termed the Palestinian resistance.
Az-Zahar intended in this video to deliver a message of subtle defiance to the Gulf States, especially those which normalized relations with Israel. Gulf countries (with the exception of Qatar) have consistently rejected Iranian interference in the Palestinian conflict, which serves Tehran’s hegemonic ambitions rather than helping to achieve peace in the region.
In the video below, Iran wanted to address the US military build-up in the Persian Gulf by issuing a defiant message to demonstrate unprecedented confidence in Iran’s capability to confront the United States.
General Yahya Rahim-Safavi, Khamenei’s senior advisor on the armed forces, spoke about the ability of Iran’s military to face the Americans.
He reported that Iranian military intelligence was watching American forces in the region and was well aware of their strengths and weaknesses. General Rahim-Safavi said that the United States is, according to MEMRI, “vulnerable in the region,” and the Iranian army is capable of sinking the American aircraft carriers in a matter of hours.
The effect of this PR campaign by Iran was evident in the recent Gulf summit, which was attended by Qatar, whose Emir attended after a direct intervention from Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
In his opening statement as the chairman of the summit, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed that Iran remains the main threat in the region: “Today we are in urgent need to combine our efforts to advance our region and confront the challenges surrounding us, especially the threats posed by the Iranian regime’s nuclear program, its ballistic missile program, and its destructive sabotage projects. Iran and its proxies adopt terrorist and sectarian activities aimed at destabilizing security and stability in the region.”
The Gulf states summit also aimed to discuss Gulf cooperation, regional and international strategic partnership issues, along with Iran and its nuclear program.
On its Facebook page in Arabic, Israel, for its part, posted an image showing the negative influence of Iran in the region. “The countries in which Iran intervened: Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen have collapsed. Iran planted hatred in them, induced sectarianism, and ruined the future of their children!” The left column of the image highlights Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, as well as Israel’s prosperity and progress.
All these Iranian statements, which are clearly not random, indicate that Iran is feeling euphoric about the changes that will result from the upcoming Biden administration in the United States. This also explains why the Gulf States wanted to send an unequivocal message regarding Iran’s negative effects on the region.
It is worth noting that the United States has just imposed sanctions on 17 companies and one individual in relation to Iran’s metals industry. In the statement released by the US Department of State, Secretary Pompeo confirmed that “The Iranian regime uses revenue from its metals sector to fund the regime’s destabilizing activities around the world.”
On the other hand, with Kushner’s participation in the Gulf summit, Saudi Arabia sought to send a strong message to Biden’s team that Iran should be kept under watch, rather than rushing to re-enter the infamous Iran deal.
Samir A. Zedan is a former Senior Counter-Terrorism Analyst at the US Department of State, and a former Development Outreach and Communication Specialist at USAID/Iraq. He has contributed to hundreds of articles published in major media outlets with assignments in the Palestinian areas, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Europe.
gravenimage says
Euphoric at coming Biden administration, Iran mounts PR campaign designed to project strength and defiance
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As I’ve said before, if Biden had any moral decency, this would concern him–but it doesn’t seem to, which speaks for itself.
Walter Sieruk says
Naturally ,the ayatollahs, ,mullahs as well as as the other regime officials would be very overjoyed at the prospect of a comming Biden/Harris administration.
For a Biden/Haris administration will ,no doubt, will be most un-American, treacherous,subversive and even treasonous to the Constitutional Government of the United States of America,
To make matters worse, this coming awful administration will come into being because a stolen national election by massive voter fraud and rigged voting machines .
This treachery and blatant travesty of a national rigged election is an is a terrible affront and violation to and affront to the Law of the US Constitution the American spirit of a true andhonset and real Presidential election system.
Let’s not be hopefully unrealistic and naive 2021 was the last genuine national American election this nation will ever have this comming Biden/Harris administration has the total essence ofthe Red/ Green alliance in it andbacking it.
It’s no wonder than that the Muslim tyrants of are in power in that Islamic aggressive ,hostile Islamic tyrannical regime are euphoric about this comming Biden /Haris administration.
It’s also very likely that this despicable “mullah regime” of Iran had it sinister insidious Islamic hand playing apart in that November rigged national election. For in the video documentary entitled TRUMP CARD by Dinesh D’ Souza . His film exposed that the number one ,top, goal for the year of 2020 was to scrap the Trump administration and replace it with a Biden administration. So the ayatollahs ,mullahs and other officials of that Islam Iranian regime schemmed ,funded ,support and promoted the Biben President campaign in every was that it was able to, by hook or by crook, that “mullah tyranny” aided the Biden campaign.
This true and real American tragedy. So much so that the future of the USA is so dismal and sad that now I’m glad that I’m no longer a young man and I am very sorry for the children of this country
James Lincoln says
Walter Sieruk says,
“… the future of the USA is so dismal and sad that now I’m glad that I’m no longer a young man and I am very sorry for the children of this country…”
When I see young children playing on a school playground, I wonder what the United States will be like for them in a few short decades…
Walter Sieruk says
This is a real and true American travesty and tragedy that the totally un-American,insidious ,subversive and treasonous Biden administration will soon arrive in the White House.
OLD GUY says
I have often wondered how big a kick-back Obama and Biden families got from those plane loads of money they sent to Iran?
It appears that our political leaders who study political science at our Prestigious Universities seem to be learning how to get elected. One class they paid attention in is how they can get rich off of the position the people elected them to in our government. These students are not learning that they are elected to work on behalf of the people in good faith. It appears that integrity and honesty are no longer taught anywhere.
Mojdeh says
Iran was responsible blowing up with a truck near Capital as well. Terrorist regime of Iran attacked USA soil but it was neutralized. So we ask Donald Trump attack Iran now. Bomb Bomb IRAN.