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With a looming specter of strategic defeat of its Middle East doctrine, the Iranian regime has resorted to issuing threats. Concerns about future developments in the region, which could potentially deal a severe blow to the regime responsible for igniting numerous regional crises, prompted Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to direct a warning towards Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, May 6.
Addressing officials gathered under the auspices of his Hajj headquarters, Khamenei said, “I would like to announce that this year our Hajj is a ‘Hajj of repudiation.’ Of course, repudiation has existed since the early days of the revolution and it has continued, it must remain and exist, but especially this year’s Hajj is a Hajj of repudiation!”
Khamenei, who is touted by Iran’s regime as the leader of the world’s Shia Muslims, added, “It is imperative that devout pilgrims—whether Iranian or non-Iranian, from wherever they may come—be able to convey this Quranic logic to the entire Islamic world. Today, Palestine is in need of this; it needs the support of the Islamic world. Yes, the Islamic Republic will not wait for others, but if the strong hands of Muslim nations and Muslim governments from around the world come together and support, its impact will be much greater.”
An overview of #Iran’s history of hostage-taking and how Western appeasement has fueled Tehran’s #terrorismhttps://t.co/ieaaOkZb6y
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) October 19, 2023
Khamenei’s mention of repudiation dating back to the early days of the revolution alludes to the horrific incident of 1987 when Iran’s regime dispatched mercenaries to Saudi Arabia, sparking violence. Just before the Hajj ceremonies in 1987, Saudi police intercepted a significant shipment of explosives concealed in the luggage of Iranian pilgrims on August 28th. Consequently, 100 covert operatives of the Iranian regime, disguised as pilgrims, were apprehended by the country’s security apparatus.
Days before the aggression, the clerical regime had signaled its malign intentions. On July 30, 1987, Iranian state media reported, “At the invitation of the representative of the Imam (then-Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini), a grand procession of repudiation of polytheists will be held tomorrow in the holy city of Mecca.”
During the procession, 170 members of a terror network associated with the clerical regime participated with the intention of seizing control of the shrine and its loudspeakers. Security forces discovered the regime’s plot, leading to a clash that resulted in the deaths of 402 individuals and injuries to 650 pilgrims, including 275 Iranians.
Later, amidst internal conflicts among Iranian state officials, additional details of this conspiracy emerged. They revealed how the Iranian regime sought to disrupt the Hajj ceremonies and destabilize Saudi Arabia through acts of terrorism.
On May 7, the former Foreign Minister of the regime, Manouchehr Mottaki told Iranian state TV, “In my opinion, alongside the resistance that began militarily by the Islamic world in our region, particularly in the Western Asia region, the message of the Supreme Leader this year during the Hajj essentially lays the groundwork for a civil political resistance, the foundations of which are emerging worldwide. Another task that Saudi Arabia must undertake this year is to ensure that Muslim anger during the days of repudiation is not obstructed under any circumstances.”
There are misconceptions about the Middle East conflict, such as claims that Khamenei and his allies had no prior knowledge about the war. However, according to numerous evidence and documents, the head of the snake of war and #terrorism lies in Tehran.#Iran pic.twitter.com/ONg8QGnyu7
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) December 12, 2023
Now, 38 years later, Khamenei aims to disrupt the evolving regional dynamics by utilizing Tehran’s influence over extremist factions in the region.
Concerned about the potential emergence of an uprising, the Iranian regime has taken a risky gamble by actively promoting its proxy agenda across the Middle East. Following the October 7 attacks and the ensuing conflict that swept through the region, Tehran aggressively sought to exploit the Palestinian Cause to further its hegemony over Middle Eastern nations. Domestically, Khamenei sought to exploit war fears to compel his rivals into submission and consolidate his own power. He proceeded to purge opposing candidates from the parliamentary elections and marginalized senior officials from the Council of Experts.
Now, after seven months of the bloody conflict in Gaza, achieving a two-state solution for the region’s crisis has become an international priority. This is a stance Khamenei has long opposed, viewing regional peace as a defeat for Tehran.
Thus, it’s imperative to take Khamenei by his words and recognize that lasting peace and stability in the Middle East will remain elusive as long as the leading state sponsor of terrorism continues to rule in Tehran.
