Iran Executes 11 Prisoners Amid Rights Concerns

This latest Houthi attack comes only a few days after the airstrikes by the US and Britain on dozens of Houthi sites in Yemen, signaling that the group, which claims to be acting in support of Gaza under the Israeli onslaught, is not just undeterred but may be radicalized.

Shortly after the airstrikes last week, the Houthi leadership spoke of retaliation and threatened that all American and British interests would be “legitimate targets”.

Sunday afternoon (Yemen time), the Houthis fired an anti-ship cruise missile” towards USS Laboon (DDG 58), according to US Central Command. “The missile was shot down in vicinity of the coast of Hudaydah by U.S. fighter aircraft. There were no injuries or damage reported.”

The Houthis are no match for US and UK military power, but they seem to have enough determination and weaponry –provided by Iran– to make the Red Sea entirely unsafe for shipping, and escalate the conflict in the Middle East.

Initial assessments from the US suggests that no more than a quarter of the Houthis’ capability has been destroyed in the US/UK airstrikes.

The intercepted attack on a US warship may mean more airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, something that most countries in the region, including US ally Saudi Arabia and Nato member Turkey, do not like for different reasons.

President Biden said following the airstrikes that there could be more if the Houthis don’t back down. He did issue a thinly veiled warning to the Iranian regime as well, saying a message had been delivered and they wouldn't do anything. Any further Houthi aggression could be testing for Biden as he’d have to juggle domestic calls for a show of strength and calls for restraint from crucial regional countries.

Britain will "wait and see" before deciding to launch fresh military strikes against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen in order to protect international shipping, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said on Monday.

"Let's wait and see what happens, because it's not that we want to be involved in action in the Red Sea. But ultimately freedom of navigation is an international right," Shapps told Sky News, when asked if Britain would carry out more strikes.

All this comes amid an ongoing Israeli onslaught on Gaza, which Biden wants to contain as he enters the 2024 election campaign begins in earnest

A new poll by ABC and Ipsos shows Biden’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest and “a record low for his presidency and for any president in the last 15 years."

In the survey, conducted the first week of January, only 33 percent of those surveyed said they approved of Biden, a 4-points drop from the previous poll in September 2023, while 58 percent said they disapproved of his performance, a 2-points rise since September.

The situation in the Middle East is likely to surface as a key theme during the election campaign, especially since Biden’s unconditional support for Israel seems to be losing him indispensable Arab/Muslim votes in such key states as Michigan –as well as some younger ‘progressive’ votes.

On the 100th day of the Israeli war on Gaza, the White House national security council spokesman John Kirby said that the Biden administration had been discussing with Israel “a transition to low-intensity operations” in Gaza.

“We believe it’s the right time for that transition,” he said in an interview with CBS. “And we’re talking to them about doing that.”

Abbas Golroo, belonging to the hardliner faction and member of the parliament's national security committee, made the comments in a Sunday interview with Jamaran website.

The Kerman attacks resulted in nearly one hundred deaths and hundreds of injuries along the route leading to a cemetery, where former IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani is buried.

While the ISIS of Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the suicide bombings, social media speculation within Iran continues, with some accusing the country's security and intelligence agencies of orchestrating the attacks to garner sympathy for the regime.

Golroo claimed that Iran has played a role in attacks against Israeli targets in European countries. He also highlighted Hamas' recent attack as a “successful challenge to Israel's defense capabilities.” He hinted at ongoing and planned actions against the Israeli interests in various regions.

“A portion of the actions that we receive reports about is actively taken against this regime, both in European countries and within the occupied territories, as well as in the region. Additional actions are also being planned,” added the MP.

Despite accusations against Israel for allegedly organizing the Kerman incident, the United States rejected any suggestion of Israeli or American involvement in the Kerman explosions.

Contrary to what has been presented so far in the discussion on succession after Ali Khamenei, this article will not speculate about the time of his death, the identity of his successor, power struggles between the clerics and the IRGC, or the role of China, Russia, and the West in the matter. Instead, we will delve into the decision-making process. Presenting two sets of facts concerning the background of power transfer from Khomeini to Khamenei and from Khamenei to the next leader, should the regime remain intact.

1989: Smooth Transition

After Khomeini's death, the succession process unfolded relatively smoothly, devoid of tension, and can be attributed to five key factors. Firstly, the presence of an influential figure like Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who held sway among middle, left, and right-wing officials within the system, played a pivotal role. Rafsanjani was essentially a ‘kingmaker’ who not only influenced Khamenei's ascent to power with his unverifiable narratives but also held sway over numerous pivotal institutions, from parliament and the executive branch to state media, the police force, IRGC, and the Ministry of Information.

Secondly, a five-member board comprised of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Abdul Karim Mousavi Ardebili, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Ali Khamenei, and Ahmad Khomeini made critical decisions during Khomeini's illness, exercising comprehensive control over all centers of power. This board effectively prevented marginal power centers from gaining influence, holding the reins of coercive powers after the removal of Hossein Ali Montazeri and his supporters from key positions. Montazeri had been Khamenei’s designated successor who had fallen out of favor before the leader’s death.

Among second-tier officials, there existed dozens of relatively influential figures aligned with different political factions, including Ali Meshkini, Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani, and Ahmad Azari Qomi on the right, and Jalaluddin Taheri, Yusuf Sanei, and Mohammad Mousavi Khoiniha on the left. Political groups were attentive to their advice, which mitigated concerns within security and military institutions regarding infighting. Additionally, only a minimal number of Islamist figures were subjected to persecution, torture, or harassment by the regime, which limited internal opposition to the new leader.

The absence of any significant social movement in the post-war period left the regime with ample latitude to designate the next leader. Consequently, both Khomeini's funeral and the Experts Assembly session that elected Khamenei, unfolded without societal tension or challenges. While the populace might not have been content with the status quo, the absence of a sizable opposing movement or dissenting voices was notable.

Furthermore, the tranquil security and political landscape in the region after the Iran-Iraq war, combined with the relative weakening of the Iranian navy by the US in the southern waters, contributed to the smooth transition of power. There was a notable absence of perceived foreign threats to the regime.

Turbulent Transition

After Khamenei's passing, the situation will not be as peaceful as before, as none of the five conditions mentioned earlier will apply. Instead, the opposite circumstances are in place. There is no one within Ali Khamenei's inner circle who possesses the stature, power, and influence of Hashemi Rafsanjani, capable of assuming the role of a "king-maker." Rafsanjani's absence poses a greater threat to the system than his presence would have. In totalitarian systems, individuals often play a more significant role compared to institutions.

Khamenei's close associates, such as the head of his office, the president, or the head of the Expediency Council, are more disliked among the people and political figures than Khamenei himself. Even cabinet members and lawmakers view them with disdain. The removal of Qasem Soleimani by President Donald Trump in 2020 had a considerable impact, as Soleimani could have been such a kingmaker. Even the reformists praised him for his role in advancing their agenda and did not consider him an adversary.

Khamenei has transferred power primarily to IRGC commanders but has consistently rotated them, preventing any one of them from developing significant influence. Figures like Hossein Salami, the commander of the IRGC, and Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force, are not taken seriously by most. Beyond the upper echelon, there is no alternative power center capable of leading state affairs. Various power centers on the periphery, in the form of factions and dormant assets, could be rapidly mobilized.

Former high-ranking officials have been either isolated or eliminated, losing their previous support base. They have been marginalized to the point of becoming detested by insiders. The well-know influencers within the regime are now the preachers, eulogists, and Basij members, all unpopular among the public. There is a lack of charismatic political figures.

In 2024, numerous political and social movements are active and prepared to exploit any power vacuum. Hundreds of thousands of young individuals, suppressed during the Mahsa movement, and families who have lost loved ones may take to the streets under the right conditions. However, the government has become more repressive and brutal. The next confrontation between the opposition and the government will likely result in more casualties on both sides. Society is in turmoil due to the regime's oppression and abuses, making it unlikely for the government to rely on silence and social passivity during the succession process.

The regime's interventions across the Middle East have led regional countries to view the Islamic Republic as a threat and welcome any domestic instability and turmoil in Iran. When Israel can remove nuclear and military officials openly and steal nuclear documents without significant repercussions, it is evident that more significant actions can be taken in a chaotic situation.

For these five reasons, there is no one to jump-start the leadership "junk car" in the event of a jurist guardian's death, allowing the next jurist guardian to seize the steering wheel. In such a situation, those seeking control will likely have to engage in internal power struggles.

Despite the limited number of leadership candidates backed by influential factions, there are imminent violent clashes between these factions for three key reasons:

1. The Expert Assembly lacks legitimacy among insiders, as it comprises low-level clerics, who have not won their seats in competitive and free elections but essentially appointed to their positions.
2. There is fierce competition for the country’s resources in an environment, which has become much more corrupt since 1989.
3. Apprehensions of swift elimination of opponents after a new leader is chosen, given the historical trend of the system eradicating all internal opposition in the past two decades.

The footage reveals Dr. Velayati walking with noticeable difficulty and a curved back, requiring assistance from his bodyguards.

The video follows earlier images depicting Velayati in a weakened state, contributing to widespread speculation about his well-being. Despite the public's curiosity, no official information regarding the current health status of the head of Masih Daneshvari Hospital has been disclosed.

In response to the video, social media users have drawn attention to Velayati's extensive responsibilities. Ali Qolhaki on the X network expressed astonishment at Velayati's ability to maintain roles such as the international advisor to the Supreme Leader, member of the Expediency Discernment Council, chairman of the founding board of Azad University, and secretary-general of the Islamic Awakening Assembly, considering his apparent physical challenges.

Born in 1945 in Tehran, Velayati, a pediatric specialist from the University of Tehran, acquired expertise in infectious diseases from Johns Hopkins University in the United States. Serving in various governmental roles, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, and as a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Velayati has played a significant role in the regime’s politics.

Mohammadi faces a 12-year sentence, 6 years executable, and Hamedi, 13 years with 7 years executable.

Hamedi's arrest on September 22, 2022, followed her reporting on Mahsa Amini's critical situation in the hospital, after she received serious head injuries in hijab police custody. Amini's eventual death sparked nationwide protests. A week later, Mohammadi, a Ham-Mihan newspaper reporter, was arrested covering Amini's funeral in Saqqez. Accused of informing about Amini's death, both faced pressure from security entities.

Amini was detained on charges of violating rules mandating women to wear a hijab. While Iran's state coroner claimed her death was due to pre-existing medical conditions, a UN human rights expert argued that evidence pointed to her dying "as a result of beatings" by morality police.

Hamedi, a Shargh newspaper journalist, was convicted of collaborating with the US government (7 years), conspiracy against national security (5 years), and anti-regime propaganda (1 year).

Mohammadi, received a 6-year sentence for collaborating with the US, 5 years for conspiracy against national security, and 1 year for anti-system propaganda, with 6 years to be executed.

Both also face a two-year prohibition of membership in parties and political groups, online activities, and media engagement.

The verdict, released over a year after detention, stirred widespread domestic and international reactions. Advocacy for press freedom and human rights intensified in response to the two journalists' challenging circumstances.