MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA Cleric Speaks on ’s Foreign Militias

OE Watch Commentary: The Iranian press “We are the foremost power in the region.” increasingly covers tension between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and President Hassan Rouhani. While the Western media sometimes paints this as a conflict between hardline and reformist factions, both parties are absolutely committed to the ideals of Ayatollah Khomeini’s 1979 Islamic Revolution; rather, their dispute often revolves around tactics or power. In the accompanying excerpted article, from a news outlet affiliated with the IRGC, Ali Shirazi, the Iranian Supreme Leader’s special representative to the Qods Force, pens an open letter to Rouhani. The general thrust of his essay is to criticize Rouhani for compromises and diplomacy with the West. He castigates Rouhani for compromising revolutionary values in order to negotiate with the West on such issues as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Financial Action Task Force (see: “Accepting The Zeynabiyun flag unveiled at the Jamkaran mosque in Qom. Source: Jamkaran.ir, http://cdn.jamkaran.ir/main/2017/05/Y2A0460-580x350.jpg. FATF is Absolutely Forbidden,” OE Watch, August 2018), and the Counter Terrorism Finance agreements. Iran continues to object to the latter two agreements in part, if not in whole, because of restrictions it would impose on groups like and which the and other Western countries designate as terrorist groups, but which the Iranian government sponsors as resistance movements. Perhaps the most important aspect of Shirazi’s letter, however, is his embrace and endorsement of various militias, not only Lebanese Hezbollah which the IRGC helped found, but also Ansarallah, the main Houthi military group in . Iranian diplomats sympathize with the Houthi cause in Yemen, but are careful to deny direct links; Shirazi appears—not for the first time—unconcerned about such diplomatic nuance. In addition, Shirazi claims that Iran finds strength and influence in other groups, such as the religious, pro-Iranian “Haydariyun” in as well as the Popular Mobilization Forces, many of which remain under Iranian command and control in Iraq. Shirazi also talks about the Zeynabiyun and the Liwa Fatemiyoun, two groups fighting in whose members, respectively, are drawn from Pakistan and Afghanistan, as being under general Iranian control. That he sees the proliferation of these groups as a sign of Iranian strength suggests the creation and deployment of proxy groups remains a key component of IRGC’s strategy. That Shirazi represents the supreme leader suggests that Ali Khamenei also backs the proxy group strategy. Lastly, Shirazi cites Iranian progress in developing missiles and drones as a sign of its technical prowess and ability. Curiously, he uses public statements by a retired Israeli missile expert to support his claims. End OE Watch Commentary (Rubin)

Source: “Sokhani Samimaneh ba Ra’is Dawlati Davazdahom (A Friendly Talk about the President of the Twelfth Government),” Tasnim News, 8 December 2018. https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1397/09/17/1893881 Mr. President! Despite all the tricks, schemes, sanctions, threats, and the battles and brutal acts of the enemies, today we are on the verge of the 40th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. The people are brave and faithful and adhere to the line of the Imam and the Guardianship. We have intelligence, top-notch youth who are neither afraid nor hopeless. In terms of military, ground, air and naval equipment, we are the foremost power in the region. Because of faith, courage, and sacrifice, we have missiles, advanced submarines, and unmanned drones. Mr. President! Today, Iran enjoys the support of Hizbullah, Ansar Allah, the Popular Mobilization Forces, the Haydariyun, the Zeynabiyun, the [Liwa] Fatemiyoun, Syria’s homeland defense [force] and the power of the Palestinian Mujahedin.” Mr. President! Uzi Rubin, the former head of the Israeli Missile Defense Organization, said Iranian missiles were examples of good engineering, and said, “Iran has gained these successes despite sanctions.” He added, “On technical grounds, I respect the people who have done these things.”

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