Internal Strife in Iran: Political Factions Clashing Over Leader’s Authority
Iran’s political scene is growing increasingly chaotic, as rival factions are using the authority of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to undermine each other. This situation arises amidst ongoing uncertainties regarding Khamenei’s active role in governance, as noted by an Iran specialist.
Reports from Iran International highlight tensions surrounding President Masoud Pezeshkian’s standing with the new supreme leader. A senior cleric, Mohammad-Bagher Kharrazi, who is related to Khamenei, claimed that Pezeshkian has threatened to resign multiple times and that his next resignation would be accepted without hesitation.
Pezeshkian’s office vehemently refuted these claims. His deputy for communications, Mehdi Tabatabaei, labeled the accusations “baseless,” asserting that Kharrazi had no ties to Khamenei and was known for fabricating stories.
In a subsequent report, it was suggested that Pezeshkian had met Khamenei only once in a car with tinted windows, making it impossible for them to see each other. The president reportedly did not even shake Khamenei’s hand, leading him to question whether he had truly heard the supreme leader’s voice.
Kasra Aarabi, a director specializing in Iranian politics, characterized the ongoing conflict as stemming from a power struggle within what he termed an “Islamist oligarchic mafia system.” Under the previous leader, Ali Khamenei, he acted as the “godfather” who managed conflicts and ensured rival factions had access to power. However, the absence of Mojtaba Khamenei has led to uncertainty about who is truly in charge.
Aarabi indicated that the struggling factions are not primarily divided by ideology but rather by competition for power and economic resources. In this context, Khamenei’s name has become a tool that different political groups leverage to validate their positions or undermine their rivals.
Mehdi Ghadimi, an exiled journalist, explained that circulating resignation rumors is a familiar tactic among reformist administrations to gain public sympathy. He noted a pattern where such rumors often emerge when officials sense their influence waning.
Ghadimi went as far as to suggest that Mojtaba Khamenei might not even be capable of functioning as a leader, raising concerns about his health.
The conflicting narratives surrounding Pezeshkian and Khamenei highlight this power dynamic, with factions using their identities to bolster their claims. With no recent public appearances by Mojtaba Khamenei, officials have offered differing accounts of how often he meets with senior leaders.
Aarabi warned that as Khamenei’s absence continues, the value of invoking his name as a symbol of authority may diminish, escalating competition among factions while raising questions about Khamenei’s own status. The increasing uncertainty could lead to fierce infighting as political groups seek to establish their dominance.
