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In the aftermath of Tehran’s missile attack on Israel on October 1, the regime’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, embarked on a 1.5-day diplomatic mission to Qatar. While state media has trumpeted the trip as a diplomatic triumph, it appears to be little more than an attempt to boost the morale of both Tehran’s proxy forces and its internal power base, which recent military and economic setbacks have shaken.
Pezeshkian’s visit is portrayed in official outlets as a significant step forward for Tehran. Nour News, affiliated with the Supreme National Security Council, described the trip as a “diplomatic success” that “reinforced support for Palestine” and aligned Qatar with Tehran’s stance following the missile strike. However, this narrative obscures the real intentions behind the regime’s diplomatic push: to secure intervention from other nations and stave off further military retaliation.
State media has focused on harsh rhetoric, masking the regime’s urgent pleas for support. While Pezeshkian was in Qatar, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been traveling across the region, also seeking backing. Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been preaching to Muslim nations to unite against what he calls “the enemy.” This flurry of diplomatic activity is being framed as a show of strength, but in reality, it reflects the regime’s growing desperation as it struggles to maintain control at home and abroad.
#Khamenei’s Friday Prayer Sermon Exposes #Iranian Regime’s Fears of Regional Strategy Collapsehttps://t.co/N4iMAAbqXp
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) October 4, 2024
A quote from the state-run Donya-e-Eqtesad highlights the security dimension of Pezeshkian’s visit: “This trip, alongside the message of deterrence sent after Operation True Oath 2, adds considerable value, especially given its timing with the historic meeting of Iran and Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers after decades of tension.” This emphasizes that beyond economic and diplomatic efforts, the trip was aimed at addressing the regime’s security concerns amid escalating regional tensions.
Despite the rhetoric of success, the economic results of Pezeshkian’s trip were minimal. Mustafa Salehinejad, Secretary General of the Iran-Qatar Joint Chamber of Commerce, admitted that even the creation of a currency exchange would be considered “a significant achievement” given the difficulties Iranian merchants face in conducting business with Qatar due to sanctions. He noted that Turkey has already “taken over” much of Iran’s market share in Qatar, despite the higher costs associated with Turkish goods. This stands in stark contrast to state media’s exaggerated portrayal of the trip’s outcomes.
The Judiciary-run Mizan News Agency echoed the regime’s narrative, quoting Pezeshkian on his diplomatic achievements: “One of the key outcomes of this trip was the joint meeting of Arab foreign ministers with Araghchi, where constructive and fruitful discussions were held on regional issues, particularly Gaza and Lebanon, and on strengthening bilateral relations.”
#Iranian Regime’s FM Araghchi Scrambles to Bolster Proxy Forces Amid Military Setbackshttps://t.co/E7XjSmEJsF
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) October 6, 2024
While the detailed editorial guidelines from entities like the Ministry of Intelligence, the IRGC Intelligence Organization, or the Ministry of Guidance and Culture remain hidden, the uniformity across state-controlled media reveals an orchestrated effort to control what is allowed to be published and what is not.
As Pezeshkian and Araghchi traverse the region in a bid to find diplomatic allies, state media continues to spin a narrative of victory and resolve. In reality, Tehran is scrambling to counteract the military and diplomatic consequences of its own making. The regime’s reliance on public relations stunts to prop up the spirits of its struggling proxy forces and loyalist base at home only underscores the precariousness of its position.