By Pooya Stone
The Iranian regime relies on the export of revolution for its support within Iran. Meddling in the conflicts of the wider Middle East is a core part of the regime’s ideology.
This ideology drives Iran’s involvement in regional conflicts, which hinges on dividing Sunni and Shiite Muslims, establishing dominance in Iraq and Syria, and creating a united “Shiite crescent” in the Middle East, alongside Hezbollah, the Assad regime in Syria, the Lebanese army, and an extensive network of Shiite militias.
Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei has explained in great detail that dead terrorist Qassem Soleimani, who was the commander of the Quds force, played a vital role in the mullahs’ agenda of exporting terrorism and chaos across the Middle East.
In a meeting, held during Soleimani’s funeral ceremonies, Khamenei spoke of how Soleimani fought against the US all across the Middle East, including in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, but what he said wasn’t exactly what he meant.
Khamenei said: “The Americans… wanted to keep the Palestinians in a position of weakness. Soleimani gave the Palestinians what they needed, enabling them to turn a small region like the Gaza Strip into a resistance center against the Zionists and bring the Zionists to propose a cease-fire in 48 hours. This was done by Qassem Soleimani. Our Palestinian brethren admitted this fact several times in my presence. Of course, I was in the picture.”
A more accurate description is that Soleimani gave millions of dollars in cash to Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip, which actually weakened the Palestinian state through the support of terrorists. Something that also happened in Lebanon.
Khamenei said: “Today, Hezbollah is Lebanon’s hand and Lebanon’s eye. It has been reinforced day after day. Soleimani’s role in this is quite evident.”
Given that the actual Lebanese people hate Hezbollah and that the country is in political deadlock, it doesn’t seem like something to brag about. But still, he continued, this time focusing on Soleimani’s role in Iraq and Syria.
Khamenei said: “Brave Iraqi believers and Iraqi youth, as well as the clergy, stood in the face of the US, and Soleimani helped them and supported them as a great supporter and an active counselor.”
Again, this is a lie. The Iraqi youth were protesting Iranian control in their country just two months ago. However, it does show that mullahs’ Middle East policy is not determined by those in the foreign ministry, but by those in the security forces. Even Iran’s ambassadors are appointed by the Quds force.
Khamenei, referring to Soleimani’s importance for his government said: “Soleimani was not active only in the military aspect, in politics he was the same. More than once I told those who are in politics that they should learn from Soleimani, the way he was brave in politics, he was very wise and at the same time very influential.”
