The relationship between the Iranian regime and the Palestinian cause has been a complex and often controversial one. While the regime has portrayed itself as a staunch supporter of the Palestinian people’s aspirations for self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian state, its actions have been viewed as a form of betrayal by most of the Palestinians and the international community.
Iran pours money and arms into the region to keep Palestine in a constant state of conflict and instability. However, the Iranian regime’s involvement in Palestine has also been marked by political and strategic calculations that have often diverged from the best interests of the Palestinian people.
For example, Iran’s ardent opposition to Israel has led it to prioritize its own geopolitical interests over those of the Palestinians. This has included supporting factions that may not necessarily represent the broader Palestinian consensus and pursuing policies that can further inflame tensions in the region. Additionally, Iran’s support for the Syrian regime in the Syrian Civil War, which has involved significant human rights abuses and displacement of Palestinians, has raised questions about its commitment to the welfare of the Palestinian refugees in the region.
In a recent statement, one of the clerics within the Iranian regime, Kazem Seddiqi, delivered a speech in which he cast doubt on the Palestinian people’s struggle and their true cause. He stated, “Now, one of the problems facing the people of Gaza is Mahmoud Abbas’s group. These individuals have aligned themselves with Israel, exposing the homes of commanders and guiding them for bombings. It is imperative to rid ourselves of informants and identify infiltrators. We must identify those who are engaging in sabotage.”
Back in the winter of 1978, few could have foreseen that the uprising and revolution aimed at toppling the oppressive regime of the Shah would give way to a new form of tyranny. This new order would sacrifice the well-being of the Iranian people, all in the pursuit of establishing a harsh religious dictatorship, one keen on expanding its influence to neighboring nations and even the world at large.
Hossein Ali Montazeri, the former Deputy of regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini, recounted in his memoirs: “At the onset of the revolution, numerous individuals flocked to Iran. The first person to meet with Imam [Khomeini] was Mr. Yasser Arafat, leading a Palestinian delegation. I was in Tehran at that time, and Yasser Arafat journeyed to various Iranian cities, including Khuzestan, where he was warmly received. He appeared quite pleased.”
He further noted: “Mr. Yasser Arafat had contacted me multiple times to facilitate the education of Palestinian youth in different countries. He requested that we provide opportunities in Iran for Palestinian youths to come and study.”
It becomes evident that Arafat, much like the people of Iran and the broader region, welcomed the anti-monarchy revolution with hopes that it would lay the groundwork for peace and progress throughout the region. He envisioned the resolution of the conflict between the Shah’s dictatorship and Iraq’s rulers as a means to encourage greater determination in seeking peace in the Middle East.
However, Khomeini had different intentions. He responded to Arafat’s goodwill with the introduction of the ‘Quds Day’ slogan and, right from the outset, attempted to position himself as the guardian and patron of Palestine. Additionally, he used the slogan ‘Conquering Jerusalem through Karbala’ to shift the focus from the Palestinian issue to his own war with Iraq, effectively manipulating the regional and Islamic narrative.
From the outset, the Khomeini regime’s policy has been one of sowing discord, marginalizing, and denouncing the genuine historical leaders of Palestine as traitors. In essence, their aim has been to sharpen the blade of betrayal against the Palestinian cause.
Subsequently, after Arafat, their focus shifted to Mahmoud Abbas, the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, labeling him as a ‘conciliator’ in an attempt to create division and discord, which, they believed, could serve to distract from internal uprisings within Iran.
Given this historical backdrop of sabotaging peace and undermining the ideals and values of Palestine, it is evident that as long as this regime remains in power, it will continue to destabilize other regional nations and afflict their populations, be they Shia or Sunni, Iraqi, Yemeni, or Syrian.
Consistently, the Iranian Resistance has stressed that anyone seeking peace in the Middle East must address the core issue by confronting the regime in Tehran. In the context of Palestine, showing support for Mahmoud Abbas as the President of the Palestinian government, the Fatah Organization, and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people is essential.
