The mainstream Western media outlets are overflowing with headlines praising Masoud Pezeshkian, the new, supposedly "reformist" president of Iran. The word "reformist" appears invariably alongside his name, thereby spotlighting an enormous lack of understanding regarding Iran's ruling mullahs and their theocratic establishment.
To be a politician in the Islamic Republic of Iran and survive, one must embrace and adhere to the fundamental revolutionary principles that underpin the regime. Political office entails demonstrating unwavering loyalty to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and fully endorsing the regime's intractable anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism without question. Moreover, any Iranian politician must be prepared to impose the government's Islamist laws rigorously and crush any form of opposition to the Islamic Republic. The political landscape in Iran does not tolerate dissent or deviation from these core principles, ensuring that only those who conform entirely to the regime's ideology can navigate the tricky waters of the regime's politics.
In Iran, any individual who genuinely seeks to reform the system is likely to be swiftly eliminated, if not executed. This harsh reality underscores the suicidal nature of attempting to challenge the status quo. Consequently, labeling the regime's politicians as "reformist" is not only misleading, but also an affront to the memory of the countless Iranians who have lost their lives in the struggle for genuine reform and systemic change. These brave individuals were brutally oppressed by the regime for their efforts to bring about a transformation away from a society of fear, making it imperative to recognize the difference between those who operate within the system and those who have sacrificed everything in the pursuit of true reform.
Pezeshkian, whom the Western mainstream media have laughably labeled a "reformist," is, in fact, a dedicated supporter of the regime's all-powerful militia, an officially designated terrorist organization, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC returned the compliment and supported Pezeshkian back.
Pezeshkian frequently wears an IRGC uniform in parliament, symbolizing his deep allegiance to this powerful military organization. "I would wear IRGC uniform again," he has said. "If the IRGC didn't exist, the nation would be divided."
Pezeshkian has publicly condemned the United States for designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization. As an insider who has been with the regime since its establishment nearly four decades ago, Pezeshkian's long-standing loyalty to the Islamic Republic is unquestionable. His approval by the extremely stringent, hardline Guardian Council to run for the presidency underscored his alignment with the core revolutionary principles that sustain the Islamic Republic.
This, unfortunately, is not the first time that the mainstream Western media have hastily labeled Iranian politicians as "moderates" or "reformists." The gullible Western media similarly portrayed President Hassan Rouhani as one during his term from 2013-2021. As historical evidence indicates, whenever a so-called "reformist" or "moderate" assumes the presidency, the political system of the ruling mullahs remains steadfastly unchanged.
The regime uses these so-called "reformists" or "moderates," with their seemingly friendly demeanor and calls for improved relations and "peace," to deceive the West. In reality, their sole objective is to have sanctions removed, generate more revenue, and ultimately strengthen the IRGC, the Supreme Leader, the regime's system, and its network of proxies and terror groups.
These political figures are strategically positioned to create a mirage: the illusion of potential reform to lure the West into a false sense of security while the central objectives of the regime remain unchanged -- and expansion-by-proxies and the nuclear weapons program forge ahead.
Iran's unlawful "nuclear deal," the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), centered on Iran's determination to have nuclear weapons and the ballistic missiles to deliver them. When, during the US President George W. Bush's administration, Iran's economy was severely crippled due to stringent sanctions, Iran's regime groomed Rouhani as a so-called "moderate" and allowed him to run for president.
The gullible Western media and the officials they protect – both of whom lied to perpetuate the "Russia Hoax" against US President Donald J. Trump, and lied to perpetuate the fraudulent letter from 51 former intelligence officials who claimed Hunter Biden's laptop had "the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation," and who lied to cover up US President Joe Biden's mental decline for four years – appear eager to play into the Iranian regime's hands by enthusiastically portraying Pezeshkian as a "moderate."
Rouhani's presidency revitalized the regime by securing funding from the Obama administration that doubtless helped finance a nuclear deal, that, after a few years, would enable Iran's regime to have as many nuclear weapons as it liked.
The unlawful JCPOA deal resulted in the lifting of sanctions and reintegrated Iran into the global financial system. Billions of dollars flowed into Iran's treasury. That influx of cash ultimately fortified the regime, the IRGC, and their operations, illustrating not only the Iranian regime's adeptness at manipulating starry-eyed Western officials to achieve its strategic goals, but worse: it exposed the gullibility of the US and the West who eagerly run into these staged mirages and traps.
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a business strategist and advisor, Harvard-educated scholar, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He has authored several books on Islam and US Foreign Policy. He can be reached at Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu
