Experts Predict Hardline Policies Will Increase Under Ebrahim Raisi’s Leadership
Ebrahim Raisi’s inauguration ceremony will take place Thursday in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, and Iran’s alleged involvement in an attack on an Israeli vessel, coupled with the recent release of a video of Khamenei’s remarks opposing negotiations with America, suggest to many observers that the groundwork is being laid for hardline policies under the incoming government.
In last Thursday’s attack on the “Mercer,” a ship owned by Israeli company “Zodiac,” one British national and one Romanian citizen were killed.
The drone attack occurred in the waters of the Gulf of Oman, and two days later, Naftali Bennett, Israel’s prime minister, accused Iran of involvement in the attack.
Mr. Bennett stressed: “Israel will respond in its own way.” The United States and Britain have also accused Iran of the deadly attack and said they would deliver “an appropriate response.”
Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, has rejected these accusations.
Meanwhile, Sunday evening, the release of a video by Khamenei’s office was interpreted as a directive and guide for the future government’s policy orientation.
In this video, Khamenei says: “I have particularly noted one experience and a point that I have repeatedly made to you and the people, and I am repeating it now. Why am I so insistent that relations with America should not be established, except for specific and certain matters that would serve national interests.”
He also claims that “the betrayal of the West and especially America” is a characteristic that does not change with governments and individuals, and emphasizes that he had repeatedly told Iran’s officials and negotiators that they could never secure the country’s interests in negotiations with America.
He said: “Even politicians in favor of relations with America have acknowledged this reasoning in some respect. The country’s officials and negotiators say Americans have a saying: they say what is mine is mine. What is yours is negotiable.”
Ebrahim Raisi, described as the most hardline and conservative figure who will soon become Iran’s chief executive, said during the election campaign, according to Reuters, that he wishes to revive the JCPOA, but instead of appeasement and prolonged negotiations with America, he would do so from a “position of strength.”
Source: Voice of America
