LOS ANGELES (OC).–Today began the three-day funeral of the 88-year-old late Surpeme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khaemeni wjp was lo;;ed Feb/ 28 in the first day of the U.S.-Iran War. Khamenei served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since June 3, 1989 aftter the dealth of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei, the founder of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. So, for Iranian loyal of the Revolution, they viewed Ali Khamenei with great reverence, serving as Iran’s Surpeme leader more nearly 40 years. Khamenei’s 56-year-old son, Mojtaba, was named as his successor March 8 but has not been heard-or-seen in public because of severed injuries sustained in the bombing attack that killed his father. Whatever reports about Mojtaba’s health, there every reason to believe that he sustained severe injuries before Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corpos [IRGC] named hin Iran’s nextt Supreme Leader.
Whether verified or not, the fact that Mojtaba has not been hear-or-seen since his father’s death and no won’t be attending his funeral indicates he’s in no condition to show the Iranian public. IRGC head Ahmad Yahidi made a rare public appearance at Khamenei’s funeral signaling that he’s no concerned about a U.S. or Israeli assassination. Normally, Vahidi stays clear of any public appearances, knowin what happened Jan. 4, 2019 when Qud’s leader Qassem Solemani was lilled by a U.S. predators drone attack. Whatever the reason, Vahidi rarely makes public appearances but thought it was important to show his face at Khamenei’s funeral. Since Khamenei’s death, it appears that a transfer of power took place from from Iran’s mullah government to the IRGC. Yet the IRGC wanted continuity by naming Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s next Supreme Leader.
Ali Khamenei inherited the father figure role from Knomenei who only ruled iran from 1979 to 1989, nothing of Ali Khamenei’s longevity as Iran’s Supreme Leader. Ali Khamenei was responsible for financing terrorist proxy groups to battle what he called the “Zionist entitity,” referring to Israeli’s illegal occupation of Palestinian lands. While Shiite by nature, Iran technically was not part of the Palestinian Sunni diaspora claiming that Israel stole its land during the 1948 war of liberation. Khamenei was devotee of Iran’s Revolutonary Founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei who drove the Sha Mohammad Reza Pahlavi out of Iran. Pahlavi’s exiled son, Reza Pahlavi, say he would return to Iran to reun a new democrat government, something not wanted by the vast number of Iranias who would prefer to pick theirj own leader if the mullah regime vanishes.
Trump has found dealing with Iran’s mullah government difficult to deal with because the IRGC now calls the shots. Iran’s President Mahmoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi and Parliament Speaker and leader negotiator Mohammad Bahgheir Ghalibaf have no say in paace talks, yet present themselves as Iran’s leaders. Once Ayatollah Ali Kyhamenei died, the IRGC tood over the country, despite naming Mojtaba Khamenei the next Supreme Leaders. So, when Trump tries to make peace with Iran’s civilian leadership, it’s vetoed by the IRGC that sees the U.S. and Israel as mortal enemies. Trump likes what he hears from Iran’s mullah government but knows it carries very little clout with the IRGC running the show. Trump finds himself unable to make much progress on peace talks because Iran’s civilian rulers no longer call the shots when it comes to war-and-peace.
Iran warned the U.S. and Israel not to do anything foolish during three days of mourning for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Foreign leaders fdrom several world powers, including Russia, China and India, attended funeral arraignment where the Ayatollah would be buried close of Iran’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei. To make any progress on peace, Trump would have to restore power back to the civilian mullah government. IRGC prevents the civilian government from making peace, but, more importantly, following through on the MOJ that requriers it to keep the Strait of Hormuz open while the U.S. meets its obligations of sanctions relief, end to blockade and eventual payments of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets. Trump finds itself maddening to know the civilian mullah government has no control over completing the terms of the MOU.
Like so many other terror groups, Trump found it difficult to deal with the IRGC that regenes on all its promises related to the MOU. Iran’s mullah government is halpless when it comes to meeting obligations under the terms of the MOU, leaving Trump unable to complete a long-term peace table. Paticipaing in the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral, he was on the one that set the IRGC up as the main source of defense protection for Iran’s mullah government. Khamenei gave the IRGC unlimited power to defend the state, now finds itself actually controlling the civilian mullah government. Trump can’t do much to eliminate the IRGC that currently controls the Strait of Hormuz and other security issues for Iran. Trump only long-term hope is that the Iranian Kurds can help neutralize the IRGC after years of abuse, waiting for the day it could rule the country.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
