Ali Khamenei, with regards to Iran’s meddling in Syria, said: “If the Islamic Republic had not taken a stance in the center of all this sedition, we would have experienced many problems inside the country.”

In Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) is the main tool for Khamenei to pursue his policies, many of which look after his own interests.

The IRGC, however, was damaged in the recent attack. Furthermore, during the presidential election last month, the IRGC was subject to a large blow.

To kick the IRGC while it is down, the US Senate is seeking further sanctions. Some are wondering whether it was an innocent coincidence that the attack took place just before the Senate vote.

The Iranian regime has been dealing with a series of setbacks for a long time now. However, it seems to have felt the most pressure following the US President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia last month.

Diplomatic ties were severed between Qatar, an ally of Iran, and several other Arab countries. Was the Iranian regime desperate enough to take actions to make it look like a victim of terrorism?

The IRGC now has an excuse to ramp up security inside Iran and the Supreme Leader has an excuse for his harsh words.
By ramping up security in Iran, the IRGC can pressure President Hassan Rouhani’s cabinet and it can prepare for the Supreme Leader’s successor.

Since the attack happened, state-run media outlets are reporting that it was similar to the “crimes committed by the infidels in the 1980s”. This is in reference to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), the main opposition. Security forces are seeking to “arrest these criminals, prosecute and execute them”.

It is not just the timing of the attacks that have called into question the circumstances of what happened, it is also the way it happened. Eyewitnesses said that armed individuals ended the parliament with vests of explosives and assault rifles, whereas security is normally tight.

Other reports state that those carrying out the attacks were Iranian, but the Ministry of Intelligence refused to release their surnames.

Whether the attack just came at a very convenient time for the Iranian regime or not, one thing is for sure – the mullahs have continued to use bloodshed to further their goals. Nothing will ever change in this regard.