Tehran Fears Its Domestic Resistance Movement

Iranian state-run outlets are reporting a mixture of internal crises, social and economic, along with the stalemate of the regime in the global and international arena. In recent days, outlets of both factions of the government have reflected the blows received from the Iranian Resistance movements known as the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

Referring to the recent nuclear revelations by the MEK, the state-run daily Mardom Salari wrote:

“At a time when [Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad] Zarif’s trip to Moscow, his meeting with Lavrov, and Lavrov’s extensive contacts with Berlin, Paris, and London had paved the way for this heavy-handed formation, the [Mojahedin] put their claim on the desk in the most critical moments that this formation was about to take shape. They claimed that our country was building a nuclear weapon at two undeclared sites in Sorkheh Hesar and Abadeh. This is where we see the great international alignment centered on Europe, Russia, and China, which was against U.S. policies, against the [system] was taking shape, it suddenly stopped and has been archived to this day. Moreover, even the European media widely covered the Mojahedin] conference and fanned the flames of their diplomatic sedition,” Mardom Salari wrote on October 27.

Resalat daily affiliated with the supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s faction, recalling the events of the November 2019 protests. “The implementation of the tripling of the price of gasoline and its quotas had consequences, and retreating from this decision had far more dangerous consequences. Dissatisfaction and possible protests were activated inside Iran. November 2019 provided a platform for these cadres to enter the field. In many centers of insurgency and protest, people with previous history and team cadres were present. (Referring to the MEK’s Resistance Units). Demolition reached one of the highest volumes in three decades in small towns and suburbs,” Resalat wrote on the same day.

Regime’s Deadlock from All Sides

The coronavirus is becoming the daily crisis of the regime. The state-run daily Jahan-e-Sanat daily admitted to this crisis in its October 27 edition. “In our country, there are various reasons for the rise in the death toll from the coronavirus, the most important of which, apart from economic and livelihood problems, is the weakening of large social capital, i.e. people’s trust in the words and actions of the government and statesmen,” the daily wrote.

“Here, the government asks business owners to close their businesses and stay at home and promises financial support to the people. Not only does it not live up to its promise, but its promises of support to the people disappear in the maze of the state bureaucracy,” Jahan-e-Sanat added.

Shargh daily depicting the economic situation of the system. “In the case of sanctions and lack of oil revenues, it is natural that the current problems arise and the immediate solution is to return to the past, that is, to sell oil and sell more currency domestically and for import, and this is apparently not possible, because it requires compromise with bullies. When ten years of sanctions are assumed, design the real-life system in sanctions and tell people honestly and explain the resistance,” Shargh wrote on October 27.

Khamenei-controlled Keyhan daily also referred to the positions of the two U.S. presidential candidates, acknowledged the continuing isolation of the regime. “They take different positions even when they reach the ‘system,’ but this difference of position is by no means in their ‘goal.’ Because they are enemies, they differ only in the ‘method of enmity’ with (the system). One says, ‘it should be restrained’ with JCPOA, another says, ‘it should be restrained’ with new negotiation.” Keyhan wrote in its October 27 edition.

Mostaghel Online website referred to the explosive atmosphere of the society, following the broadcast of the videos of the crimes of the regime agents in Esfarayen, Mashhad, and Abadan. “Breaking the ugliness of physical attacks with people in public automatically creates the suspicion that something more terrifying is happening behind closed doors. The souls of the people are greatly disturbed by the constant onslaught of such news. Concealment, projection, intimidation, lack of follow-up, and indifference to the sensitivity of public opinion in this regard will certainly have a disappointing effect on the record,” Mostaghel Online wrote on October 27.