Analysis by PMOI/MEK
Iran, May 09, 2020—"Part of the problems of the working class, God willing, will be solved!" Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said in a video message broadcasted on Wednesday, on the occasion of the International Workers Day. Khamenei’s ambiguous remarks and hollow promises are only indicative of the tumultuous times his regime is going through.
Khamenei’s main remarks were directed at many regime analysts who had warned about explosive conditions of the Iranian society and the “army of the poor and hungry.” There’s growing concern among regime officials that the continued deterioration of the country’s economy, which has only grown worse due to the regime’s mismanagement of the coronavirus outbreak, will sooner or later lead to nationwide protests.
In this regard, Khamenei said, “Some say that the fact that you are happy to have launched a satellite does not mean that our establishment has security. Satellite and weapons and things like that can't give security to our establishment. The economic issue is major.”
Khamenei was referring to last week’s military satellite launch, which has come at a huge expense paid out of the pockets of the Iranian people, who are going through especially hard times during the coronavirus outbreak. The launch has also raised international concern and condemnation, even by the regime’s traditional European allies.
But while Khamenei discussed the importance of a strong economy, he once again insisted on the launching satellites and continuing his regime’s costly ballistic missile program. He stated the ultimate goal as creating a missile that will deliver the satellite to 36,000-kilometer orbit and said, “In the near future… it will definitely happen." What this means is that the regime will continue to squander the countries resources for its destructive goals, bringing more poverty and no prosperity for the nation.
Here’s what Khamenei’s remarks imply:
He acknowledged the explosive situation of the society and his awareness of the many warning about his own analysts that no amount of weapons will save his regime if he does not address the collapsing economy.
Yet, despite knowing the precarious situation he is in, Khamenei insisted on satellite and missile programs, tacitly confirming that his only solution to escape the erupting volcano of the Iranian society is to take refuge in missile programs, because he can’t solve the country’s economic problems.
Khamenei’s futile efforts to show power and stability through military muscle-flexing is reminiscent of his predecessor, regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini. In the 1980s, Khomeini insisted on continuing the Iran-Iraq war and the massacre of political prisoners as the country’s economy continued to spiral down into bankruptcy. Khomeini historically didn’t have the capacity to resolve the demands of Iranian society for democracy, freedom and prosperity, and economic progress. Therefore, he overshadowed it by continuing the war and used the war as an excuse to suppress the right demands of the people. Khomeini left a legacy of violence and brutality, which Khamenei dutifully picked up when he assumed the mantle of the regime’s leadership after Khomeini died in 1989.
Khamenei’s current goal is to continue his rule at all costs. In this context, he tries to use every incident as an opportunity to extend the life of his outdated regime. On one hand he opens the floodgates of coronavirus by continuing his criminal strategy of sending people back to work during the pandemic, while on the other hand he tries with its missile program and propaganda to overshadow the coronavirus crisis and attempt to portray a dominant image by claiming to have overcome the situation. But can he succeed?
The regime’s own experts are doubtful. Ahmad Naderi, a member of the upcoming parliament said on May 7 to the daily Resalat: “I am worried about the social and security consequences … in the near future. Uprisings bigger than 2017/2018 and 2019 and definitely bigger than the ’90s!”
