TEHRAN, Nov 12: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, addressing the Parliament on Nov 11, said the country’s unity and stability depend heavily on the security of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claiming that any attack on him during the June war with Israel could have potentially plunged Tehran into an internal socio-political crisis, far more dangerous than any external threat.
Making his remarks during a session review of the government’s performance in its first year under the Seventh Development Plan, Pezeshkian described Khamenei as the cornerstone of Iran’s political and ideological cohesion, telling lawmakers that the supreme leader was the very “pillar of the country’s tent”, reports Iranian media.
Adding that the country’s resolve had been tested to its very peak during Tehran’s 12-day war with Tel Aviv in June, he remarked that the greatest threat to the Islamic Republic was not military defeat by Israel or any third party, but rather the potential civil war that would unfold in wake of Khamenei’s possible assassination.
“We can disagree with one another, but there is someone who ultimately makes the decisions. During the war I had no fear for myself, but I was worried that, God forbid, if something happened to the Leader, we would turn on one another – there would be no need for Israel to intervene. We must value him and stand firmly behind him,” Pezeshkian said.
The president’s comments marked the strongest govt defence of Khamenei, who has become increasingly unpopular with the general public due to the country’s dire socio-economic condition, and increasing global isolation, while simultaneously facing rising political factionalism and rivalries, compounding its already dire straits.
Urging all political blocs to unite and strengthen “discipline, dialogue, and cooperation” across state institutions, he warned that the continuing disunity and polarisation among factions would only reward the enemy.
He also highlighted the steps taken by his administration to mitigate the economic turmoil, which include reduced spending, promotion of renewable energy, and addressing the ongoing problem of water and energy shortages through scientific planning and cooperation with universities and regional authorities.
Displaying cautious optimism over the govt’s ability to tackle the problems, despite entrenched divisions within Iran’s political establishment, Pezeshkian said coordination between the executive, judiciary, and parliament had already helped to resolve several long-standing policy issues, expressing confidence that through sustained collaboration, Iran could ease its ongoing social and economic strains.
(UNI(
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