Iranian Officials Warn Khamenei of Regime Collapse Risk

Iranian officials warned Ali Khamenei about the possibility of war and the risk of regime collapse.

According to reports from the New York Times, citing two senior officials of the Islamic Republic, in a meeting held to discuss a response to Donald Trump’s letter about direct negotiations, the heads of the three branches of government and senior officials of the Islamic Republic asked Ali Khamenei to change his position opposing direct negotiations with the United States. The officials warned that the risk of war with the United States and the escalation of the economic crisis would lead to the collapse of the Islamic Republic.

According to statements from two senior Islamic Republic officials who were informed of the details, Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president at the time, and the heads of the judiciary and the Islamic Consultative Assembly, met with Ali Khamenei during a session. They, along with a group of senior country officials, in an unprecedented move, delivered a clear and blunt message to Ali Khamenei: “Allow Tehran to negotiate directly with Washington if necessary, because otherwise the survival of the Islamic Republic will be under serious threat.”

Iran is now facing a collapsed economy, free fall in the value of the rial against the dollar, and severe shortages of fuel, electricity and water. The threat of war with the United States and Israel is very serious, and if we refuse to negotiate or the negotiations fail, military strikes on the two main nuclear facilities will be inevitable.”

These officials stated that war on two fronts would be an existential threat to the Islamic Republic system, and in the event of war, Iran would be forced to respond militarily; an issue that could lead to widespread war and further damage the country’s economy, causing widespread domestic protests and more strikes.

According to statements from two senior officials who wished to remain anonymous, Ali Khamenei withdrew from his position and authorized the start of negotiations as follows: “In the first phase, indirectly through a mediator, and if positive progress is made, in the form of direct talks between Iranian and American negotiators.”