New Leader, Old Policy

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was recently elected supreme leader of Iran. His election is unlikely to significantly alter the policies of Iran’s informal leadership council, which is comprised of the president, the parliamentary speaker, the judiciary chief, and representatives of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the regular armed forces. The regime appears intent on imposing political costs on President Donald J. Trump by targeting regional energy infrastructure.

• March 7: Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani gave an interview to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting that was summarized by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated Tasnim News:
  • On U.S. and Israeli war objectives, Larijani said: “Their goal was not merely to create a minor change in Iran. In Israel’s view, something like that essentially has no meaning for a country as large as Iran. Their goal was the partition of Iran, and their main issue is Iran itself.”
  • “They believe that the same patterns they have experienced in some countries, such as Venezuela, can also be repeated in Iran, whereas the thinking and conditions here are completely different.”
  • On neighboring countries’ U.S. military bases, Larijani warned: “Iran clearly states that if regional bases are used against Iran, the necessary response will be given, and this policy will remain in place.”
  • “The other side has miscalculated through these actions and has come under Israel’s influence. It would be better for it to acknowledge its mistake and correct its course.”
• March 8: Mehdi Kharatian, a strategist close to the IRGC, said in an interview on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting that was reposted on SNSC mouthpiece Nour News Agency’s Telegram channel:
  • “A cease-fire now means more future attacks … We must punish the aggressors … Trump must be punished.”

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