Despite Absence, Iran Remains Top Of Agenda At Munich Security Conference

The mural, adorned with images of missiles and phrases in Persian and Hebrew, sends a message: "We are stronger and more determined than ever", amidst a proxy war which since October has seen Iran's militias across the region launch attacks on both Israel and its ally, the US.

Iran-backed Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, and since Israel's relentless retaliation which has blitzed Gaza, proxies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen have joined in solidarity with the Palestinian militia.

The latest unveiling in Tehran follows a similar display last month, accompanied by a stern warning of a "severe response", referring to the bombardment of Gaza. The actions echo the Islamic Republic's long standing anti-West, anti-Israel ideology, rooted in decades of propaganda dating back to its establishment in 1979.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's 2015 declaration that "Israel must be destroyed in 25 years" reflects the regime's unwavering commitment to the goal. Despite widespread mockery from Iranians, the regime persists in its rhetoric, justifying vast support for militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

However, the effectiveness of the propaganda appears to be waning, as many Iranians now express opposition to the government's stance. The sentiment is particularly evident in the ongoing Gaza conflict, where Iranians are openly supporting Israel and rejecting the regime's narratives.

The shift in public opinion reflects growing concerns about the potential consequences of Iran's aggressive stance towards Israel, including the possibility of a deadly conflict entangling the region.

In a meeting with supporters from East Azarbaijan Province Sunday morning, Khamenei called for self-reflection and “enhancing existing strengths while addressing weaknesses.” He claimed that the United States and other “enemies” want a low turnout in the elections and urged people to vote for those candidates who have been allowed to run by his obedient watchdog institutions.

While the regime’s hardcore has barred hundreds of loyal insiders from running in the elections for parliament and the Assembly of Experts, it has been trying hard to galvanize enthusiasm among a disgruntled and apathetic public. Many clerics have been recruited to urge voters to go to polling stations, praising the achievements of the regime. Even hijab rules have been relaxed for showing up at polling stations with the hope that perhaps more women will turn out.

One more sign of the regime’s need to project popularity is repeated claims that millions of people took part in the 45th anniversary of the Islamic Republic earlier in the month. Photographic evidence posted on social media showed a crowd of a few tens of thousands in Tehran. Khamenei, however, thanked the citizens on Sunday for their overwhelming presence.

Also, government media in headlines announcing Khamenei’s meeting said “thousands of people” attended his speech. But the meeting was held in his residence and office, where a large reception hall can accommodate a few hundred people, not thousands.

The aging autocrat now in his 35th year of rule, could not resist on Sunday to speak again and again about “enemies”. He told his followers that Iran should have a “smart and non-reactive approach to the enemy.” Emphasizing the importance of the elections as a solution to problems, he called on everyone to enthusiastically participate. However, many Iranians say that repeated parliamentary and presidential elections have done little to change policies that have crippled the economy and further restricted freedoms.

With mass disqualification of candidates, few see the elections as offering a real political choice, at least within the confines of Islamic Republic’s already restricted landscape. But Khamenei claimed on Sunday that all previous elections were genuine.

“Of course, throughout these decades, electoral violations in the sense claimed by the enemy have never been observed, rendering their claims baseless. In cases where some allegations were raised, upon investigation, they were identified. However, these violations never altered the overall results, and elections in the country have always been conducted correctly, soundly, and maturely,” Khamenei insisted.

In 2009, a short time after polls closed in presidential elections authorities announced that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected. Millions of people saw this as a fraudulent result and poured into the streets demanding a real recount. After months of protests, the other two candidates were put under house arrest without tirl. They are in their 80s now and still confined in their homes.

In 2021, all major presidential candidates were disqualified and barred from challenging Ebrahim Raisi, Khamenei’s favorite man for the position, who won the vote and formed a hardliner front with those in parliament who had been also elected in non-competitive circumstances.

Khamenei also admitted that Iran’s isolated and government-controlled economy is not performing well, but at the same time he called for preventing Western influences.

Last week, on the anniversary of the Iranian revolution, Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad said, "This day symbolizes the negation of freedom and republicanism." He also recalled Ayatollah Khamenei's pre-revolution promise of granting people the freedom to criticize leaders.

He has been summoned and interrogated multiple times by security forces and the special clerical court in Qom, notorious for his fearless criticism of the country's Supreme Leader. However, judicial or security sources have yet to confirm or deny the latest development.

Social media images, including those on Akbarnejad's Instagram account, depict supporters of the Islamic Republic gathering in Qom and demanding action against the critical cleric prior to his latest arrest.

The Islamic Republic's security institutions have a history of dealing with clerics critical of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's policies. These clerics have often faced harsh sentences, including imprisonment and expulsion from the clergy by the special clerical court.

His arrest follows the detainment of Abdolhamid Masoumi Tehrani, a critical cleric from Tehran, in October 2022, where some of his personal belongings were confiscated. Similarly, in 2018, Hassan Aghamiri, an active cleric on social media, received a two-year suspended sentence and permanent expulsion from the clergy by Branch 2 of the Special Clerical Court.

Tajzadeh slammed Ali Khamenei saying he "has closed his eyes to Iran's disastrous realities and ignores the cries of millions of Iranians in protest." He also highlighted widespread public disinterest in participating in the upcoming elections, stating "most Iranians have decided not to vote."

The country finds itself grappling with a myriad of economic woes that threaten to overshadow the political process. With the vote just around the corner, citizens are increasingly concerned about the state of the economy which has been battered by a combination of internal mismanagement and external pressures.

Rampant inflation and currency depreciation have eroded the purchasing power of ordinary Iranians, making it increasingly difficult for them to afford basic necessities. High unemployment rates, especially among the youth, further compound the economic distress, fueling social unrest and discontent.

In addition to the systemic issues, endemic corruption and mismanagement within the government have undermined public trust and confidence in the political establishment. Many Iranians feel disillusioned with their leaders' inability to address the root causes of economic instability and enact meaningful reforms.

The regime's heavy-handed tactics, including arrests, executions, censorship, and intimidation of political dissidents, have also created a climate of fear and mistrust among the population.

While allegations of electoral fraud have plagued previous elections in Iran, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei maintains that the electoral process has been fair and transparent. He stated in his Sunday speech that "elections in Iran have always been healthy," dismissing claims of violations as unfounded.

Upon completion, he faces a two-year ban from legal practice.

A day before his imprisonment, Alikordi addressed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in a video message, accusing the regime of hypocrisy. "The Islamic Republic celebrates its revolution anniversary with freedom as a core slogan. Yet now you are the jailer," he said.

In January, the judiciary accused Alikordi of engaging in "propaganda against the Islamic Republic system and in favor of groups opposing the regime."

The court referred to Alikordi's engagements with both national and international media, along with his online activities and writing as evidence of "propaganda against the system."

Alikordi's harassment began when he represented families affected by the 2022 uprising.

The Iranian government has a history of targeting and detaining lawyers, civil activists, and political dissenters. The crackdown has escalated since the nationwide protests against the Islamic Republic in September 2022.