Iran News: State Media Broadcast Reveals Regime’s Desperation Amid Mounting Pressures 

Iran’s state-run Shabak-e-Khabar, the regime’s main news network, aired a revealing broadcast on October 24, featuring a speech by Masoud Ali, a frequent speaker at ceremonies attended by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The speech highlighted the regime’s increasingly desperate attempts to maintain control amid growing internal and external pressures. 

Ali’s address exposed the rising wave of criticism directed at the regime’s military commanders, revealing the severity of discontent within Iran’s leadership. He noted that over the past two months, when the regime failed to respond to Israel’s strike at Tehran’s proxy forces, there had been a significant backlash on social media and through other channels against top commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including Major Generals Hossein Salami, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh as well as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri. “They were accused of ‘political impotence,’” he said, expressing his dismay at the attacks. “I’m ashamed to even say it, but these were the accusations circulating.”  

Ali’s statements also underscored the Iranian leadership’s close ties with Hezbollah, stressing the loyalty of the group’s forces. He quoted an interaction with a bodyguard of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, who stated, “I trust Sayyid Hassan with my life and would give it for him. But when it comes to the Supreme Leader, my loyalty extends even further—I would sacrifice Sayyid Hassan for him.” 

Expressing concerns over the fragile state of Iran’s regional alliances, Ali warned, “If Lebanon falls, God forbid, Iran is next. Iraq, Yemen, and Syria might present some obstacles, but they won’t be able to hold back the threats. Iran is next.” 

In his speech, Ali also criticized the regime’s judiciary for not acting decisively against perceived internal threats, calling for a wartime approach to silence dissent. “It’s wartime,” he stressed. “Those who act as the fifth column in the media and on social platforms, spreading doubt and attacking our commanders, should be tried just like in wartime. But nothing is happening; there’s no action. After the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, things have gone silent.” 

The airing of Ali’s comments on state television reflects the regime’s deepening crisis, as it struggles to suppress dissent and maintain its grip on power. His speech called for unity and a crackdown on those challenging the state, indicating a leadership grappling with mistrust, both internally and from its support base. As Iran faces regional instability and mounting international isolation, the regime’s desperate tone reveals a critical moment for its survival.