In a series of high-profile meetings ahead of his inauguration ceremony, the Iranian regime’s new president Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated Tehran’s unwavering support for various foreign proxy groups, including Hezbollah, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) as well as the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. These meetings highlight the regime’s continued investment in regional conflict and instability as part of its strategy to expand its influence for its survival.
On July 29, Pezeshkian met with Ziad al-Nakhalah, the Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, reaffirming Tehran’s steadfast support for the group. Pezeshkian emphasized that the regime’s policies in support of what he deceitfully called the “oppressed Palestinian people” and “the liberation of Jerusalem” remain unchanged despite changes in government leadership.
During another significant engagement, Pezeshkian met with Sheikh Naim Qassem, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Lebanese Hezbollah. Qassem conveyed Hezbollah’s gratitude for Tehran’s support and stated that “Hezbollah considers itself a child of Imam Khomeini and the Islamic Revolution and strives to achieve the valuable goals of the Revolution.” He then elaborated on Hezbollah’s achievements and actions in recent years. Masoud Pezeshkian declared that supporting the “Resistance Front is a religious duty and a core policy of the Islamic Republic.”
#Iran News:
Regime’s President-elect Pezeshkian Reaffirms Support for #Hezbollah and Regional Terrorismhttps://t.co/fCdhmbAyx7— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 9, 2024
On July 30, in his meeting with Mohammed Abdul Salam, the spokesperson for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Pezeshkian praised the group’s efforts and their impact on regional dynamics. He acknowledged and praised the Houthis’ actions. Pezeshkian said, “With the cooperation of Islamic countries, the oppression of Muslims must be eradicated.”
Also on July 30, Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous, along with Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Mohammad Samer Khalil and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad, met with Pezeshkian. In this meeting, Pezeshkian emphasized the longstanding and distinguished bilateral relations between Tehran and Damascus and stressed the importance of “focusing on the development of relations in all fields, particularly economic, scientific, and cultural, and enhancing them to the level of political relations.”
Additionally, Arnous conveyed an invitation from Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad for Pezeshkian to visit Damascus at the earliest opportunity. Leaked documents revealed in 2023 that Tehran spent more than 50 billion dollars to save Assad’s regime from downfall during the Syrian uprising in the early 2010s.
These meetings underscore the clerical regime’s strategy of using proxy groups to project power and influence across the Middle East. By fostering these alliances, Tehran aims to leverage its malign influence while dealing with international scrutiny to avoid accountability for violating international agreements and human rights abuses.
Reasons Behind #Khamenei’s Forced Approval of Masoud Pezeshkian in #Iran’s Sham Electionhttps://t.co/OC0zjoxuLn
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 11, 2024