Amidst the ongoing war between America and Iran, tensions regarding power are increasing within Iran as well. According to a CNN report, Iran’s fundamentalist groups allege that the leaders who negotiated and reached an agreement with America are trying to stage a soft coup against the Islamic Republic. He says that the power is going into the hands of some leaders by sidelining the new Supreme Leader. According to the report, this allegation intensified when fundamentalist supporters showed open anger against the government at the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei was killed in the initial attacks by America and Israel on 28 February. During the funeral procession, when President Masoud Pezeshkian was walking with Khamenei’s coffin, some people raised slogans of death to the compromisers. Some people threw stones at Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and called him a traitor who sold the country. Mohammad Ali Bakhshi, a religious singer associated with the Iranian regime, openly threatened President Pazhakian during a program. He said that Mr. President, if the conditions of the Supreme Leader are not fulfilled then our sword will be there and your throat will be cut. We will make your life hell.
What allegations did the fundamentalist groups make?
Radical groups believe that the government should have avenged Khamenei’s death, but it made a deal with America. They allege that this agreement was made against the wishes of the new Supreme Leader and Khamenei’s son Mujtaba Khamenei. However, Mujtaba has not yet appeared in public. He has neither addressed the country nor played his role openly. Despite this, the government is taking decisions in his name.
The radicals have also accused the government of suspending Parliament, ignoring the Supreme Leader’s instructions to negotiate with America and trying to stop supporters’ rallies at night. Iranian MP Mahmoud Nabavian wrote on social media platform After the funeral he again wrote that we stand to avenge Khamenei’s blood and will fight against the coup.
Why are allegations being made?
Arash Azizi, an expert on Iran affairs and author of the book ‘What Iranians Want’, told CNN that due to Mojtaba Khamenei not coming forward, Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, President Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Araghchi have become the face of the government. The fundamentalists do not have access to Mujtaba, hence they are accusing these leaders of a conspiracy to grab power. Meanwhile, military action is also continuing between America and Iran.
Also read: Massive devastation in Iran, US missiles rained down, Trump enraged by the death of soldiers
Leave a Reply