{"id":304366,"date":"2023-03-24T16:56:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-24T15:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=304366"},"modified":"2023-05-03T03:05:31","modified_gmt":"2023-05-03T02:05:31","slug":"iran-khamenei-lays-bare-his-regime-change-fears-and-lies-in-nowruz-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/economy\/iran-khamenei-lays-bare-his-regime-change-fears-and-lies-in-nowruz-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran: Khamenei Lays Bare His \u201cRegime Change\u201d Fears and Lies in Nowruz Speech"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Khamenei\"<\/p>\n

The Iranian regime\u2019s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, delivered his annual speech on March 21. Aside from his bogus claims of victory and blaming Iran\u2019s social and economic crises on \u201cthe enemies,\u201d Khamenei\u2019s speech was an obvious testament to the regime\u2019s deficiencies and crises.<\/p>\n

He began his remarks by attacking those regime insiders who have suggested some reforms, such as changing the constitution. \u201cI also speak of reform and change. But this is totally different from what the enemy wants. For example, changing the constitution and the structure of the Islamic system is promoted by lunatics and enemies. Unfortunately, sometimes, some [regime] insiders repeat those words out of negligence or with other purposes. The enemies seek to change the identity of the Islamic Republic,\u201d he said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Khamenei has failed to quash the nationwide uprising since it erupted in September. The continuation of these protests laid bare his regime\u2019s weakness. Yet, Khamenei didn\u2019t shy away from his usual \u201cpower\u201d and self-praising rhetoric.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened on the ground starkly contrasted with what the enemy planned for. The Islamic Republic showed its strength and emerged victorious from a global conspiracy. We slapped those who instigated the riots, supported them, or were provoked to participate in riots,\u201d he claimed.<\/p>\n

Yet, he contradicted himself by inviting his thugs and officials to \u201ccreate hope,\u201d tacitly admitting that morale is faltering in his ranks. \u201cThe enemy wants to put out the flame of hope in our youths\u2019 hearts. We should be vigilant about this. My most important advice is to create hope,\u201d he said, trying to boost the morale of his forces, who seem desperate in the face of the growing wave of dissent inside Iran.<\/p>\n

Global policy on regime change<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Khamenei, whose regime lost every bit of international legitimacy during the nationwide uprising, was right in one instance, nonetheless. He acknowledged that Western powers only tried to \u201cweaken\u201d his regime to exploit concessions<\/a> from the clerical regime. While the revolution in the making in Iran showed that regime change in Iran is inevitable, Western states have shied from taking concrete steps to support the Iranian people\u2019s desire for regime change.<\/p>\n

This became evident in the lack of the European Union\u2019s dithering on placing the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) on the list of terrorist organizations for its role in the brutal suppression of nationwide protests. It is also shown in the promotion of so-called opposition figures that have no substantial program to overthrow the regime.<\/p>\n

In February, while delegations from Tehran were not invited to the Munich Security Conference, particular parties at the MSC invited the son of Iran\u2019s former dictator Reza Pahlavi and his entourage to prevent any misinterpretation that Western powers want regime change. They used the platform to slander Iran\u2019s principal opposition, the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This, however, has not prevented the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Iranian Resistance from redoubling its effo<\/span><\/span><\/span>rts<\/span><\/span><\/span> in achieving the dreams of the Iranian people. Inside Iran, the MEK Resistance Units<\/a> have relentlessly continued their anti-regime activities to keep the flame of resistance alive. Meanwhile, abroad, t<\/span><\/span><\/span>he NCRI and the supporters of the Iranian Resistance have la<\/span><\/span><\/span>unched <\/span>numerous<\/span> campaigns to condemn the appeasement policy and make sure that the voice of the Iranian people is heard across the globe.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s Economic Crises<\/h2>\n

Despite his pathetic efforts, Khamenei couldn\u2019t ignore the country\u2019s worsening economic crises. He debunked the claims by Ebrahim Raisi and his government about \u201ceconomic progress\u201d and not having a huge budget deficit.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring the tenure of all presidents, including now, sometimes the budget bill’s revenues do not match the expenses. This causes a budget deficit, which is a huge economic problem,\u201d Khamenei said, adding that \u201cour economic growth has been weak.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn [the Persian Year of] 1401, the most important issue for the nation was the issue of the country’s economy, which is directly related to people’s livelihood. People mostly suffered from the bitter taste of inflation and high prices. Especially the high prices of consumer goods and food items. The rising costs of these commodities hurt the lower deciles of the country more,\u201d Khamenei acknowledged.<\/p>\n

But the highest authority of the ruling kleptocracy offered no solution and instead called for more plundering of the nation\u2019s wealth by institutions that are directly tied to himself. He claimed that Iran\u2019s economic crises are due to the \u201cstate-run economy\u201d and that the \u201cprivate sector and its activists\u201d should control the \u201cimportant factories and companies\u201d and \u201cwealth-making productions.\u201d The private sector is Khamenei\u2019s euphemism<\/a> for the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and its economic powerhouses, as well as the major conglomerate the regime\u2019s supreme leader, controls. No private business can get substantial economic power in Iran without being tied to the IRGC.<\/p>\n

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