ژورنال سایت خبری سیاسی ژورنال
An old video of Khamenei’s speech has gone viral on social media. It dates back to 21 March 2005 in Mashhad, where he says: “If, God forbid, this nation is faced with a bitter experience or a test, we ourselves will don our combat uniforms and be ready to sacrifice.”
Where is Khamenei now? Why is he hidden deep underground? Where is the bravado from years past, the defiant talk of readiness to die in defence of the nation? The truth is, during the twelve days in which Israel dominated Iranian airspace, the Islamic Republic’s impotence and confusion were more exposed than ever before.
Khamenei has become a paralysed figure, captive to both real and imagined fears—drained of strength, inch by inch. The reality is that death’s hand is now closer to him than ever before. When the time comes to remove this pitiful and useless figurehead from power, it may only take a familiar or unfamiliar finger on the trigger. This is no fantasy. When dictators reach the end of the road, there are often those within the system who conclude that the death of the Supreme Leader might be the key to salvaging what remains of the regime, or opening the door to internal and international negotiations. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it accelerates collapse.
During the past weeks of military conflict, Khamenei—the commander-in-chief—was entirely absent. Twice, the regime’s military leadership broadcast feeble audio messages from him, and even the final message was again released in secret. A leader who flees to a grave at the sound of the first bullet cannot project strength—neither to his regime nor to society.
But this truth can be a new launchpad for our fight to crush the Islamic Republic. When the dust of this two-week war settles, the people will rise, with full force, against these looters of life. The only enduring truth in Iranian society is this: the war between the people and this regime knows no ceasefire.
English journal about the current situation in Iran
Editor-in-Chief: Keyvan Javid
Contact: 00447388575020
E-mail: keyvan.javid1@gmail.com
Editor: Patty Debonitas
