Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, October 31, 2019—Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of the Kayhan daily, known as the mouthpiece of Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, literally called on Iraqi demonstrators to storm and take over the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone.
“All signs and evidence clearly indicate that the recent sedition in Iraq is being managed and directed by the embassies of the United States and Saudi Arabia. As a result, one can conclude without the slightest of doubts that taking over these two centers of corruption is the first and utmost necessity to confront this latest round of unrest,” Shariatmadari wrote in the Kayhan’s October 30 editorial.
Karbala, #Iraq
Demonstrators tearing apart an image of Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an expression of their protests to #Iran's meddling in their country.pic.twitter.com/wzaTIqA13s— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) 6 October 2019
“It is expected from the massive number of faithful and revolutionary youths in Iraq, with Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) being one of their symbols, to not lose a second in carrying out this important objective. These youths should not abandon the innocent Iraqi people, who have poured into the streets with their just demands, in the face of conspiracies pushed by western, Hebrew and Arabic forces, alongside the vicious and bloodthirsty forces of ISIS,” the Kayhan piece reads in utter hypocrisy.
Another article written in the Arman daily, another state-run outlet, signals Khamenei acknowledging his regime’s influence in regional countries, fading especially in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
“The meetings held between [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, and the advances made, the Islamic republic’s status quo in Syria’s developments have changed. Similar events are unfolding in Iraq. As a result, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, all considered spheres where we enjoyed political influence, are experiencing similar developments and changes… The power structure in the region, especially in Lebanon, has changed in comparison to the past… and such impacts cannot be in line with Hezbollah’s interests,” the piece reads.
"Iran’s 'backyard' is evolving into a hunting ground where its interests are the prey."#Iran#Iraqhttps://t.co/rrrkLSwaSa
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) 26 October 2019
Resalat daily, another state-run outlet in Iran, also reflected on this subject. “(In Lebanon), they are attempting to disrupt the country’s calm atmosphere. They are also chanting slogans among the protesters (mostly seen in Shiite cities) against the (Islamic republic’s) presence,” a piece reads in part.
Another Resalat article reads, “What has been taking place in Iraq in the past few days is pushing aside curtains from the truth that is hard to bear. Two Hashd al-Shaabi members being killed in the city of Samawah; burning alive ten members of the Badr Organization in the city of Diwaniya; assassinating members of the Asaeb Ahl al-Haq office in the city of Amarah and other such incidents indicate a very strange hatred indeed.”
While these claims cannot be independently verified and coming from Iran’s state-run outlets bears much suspicion, these remarks do indicate Tehran acknowledging the fact that hatred of the mullahs’ rule is escalating at an alarming rate among nations across the region.
Sa’dollah Zarei, a member of the Iranian regime’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and known to be very close to Khamenei, published a piece in Kayhan daily referring to the killings of Iran-linked militia forces in Basra, Amarah and other Iraqi cities. “These events indicate a complicated blueprinting behind the scenes,” he wrote.
Protests in #Iraq are targeting #Iran's malign influence in this country.https://t.co/1r66b4HxGq
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) 30 October 2019
