In his recent address marking the Persian New Year, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, resolutely elevated the Palestinian cause and the situation in Gaza to the forefront of global attention.

Amidst internal turmoil and the looming specter of opposition, Khamenei’s declaration underscores a strategic shift towards external conflict as a means of consolidating power and diverting focus from domestic challenges.

The paramount concern for the Iranian regime remains the threat of internal upheaval and the growing influence of the Iranian people’s resistance movement. To mitigate this existential risk, Khamenei has resorted to stoking regional tensions, sacrificing innocent lives in Gaza and Palestine to maintain a grip on power.

This tactic of deflecting attention from internal instability echoes the playbook of Iran’s revolutionary founder, Ruhollah Khomeini, who orchestrated the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s to suppress dissent and solidify control. Khomeini portrayed the conflict as a righteous struggle against oppression, akin to Khamenei’s framing of current regional hostilities.

Khamenei has resorted to stoking regional tensions, sacrificing innocent lives in Gaza and Palestine to maintain a grip on power.

Decades later, senior regime figures like Ahmad Alamolhoda emphasize the pivotal role of Gaza in reshaping global perceptions and undermining Western powers. This perceived historical shift reflects Khamenei’s desperation to forestall his regime’s demise, reminiscent of Khomeini’s resolve to prolong the Iran-Iraq War until faced with existential threats.

However, Khamenei’s efforts to leverage Gaza for strategic gains have faltered, evidenced by the regime’s recent electoral setbacks. Despite attempts to bolster support through external conflicts, the regime’s legitimacy continues to erode, with the Iranian Resistance posing a formidable challenge both domestically and internationally.

While Khamenei may seek temporary reprieve through external confrontations, the Iranian people’s steadfast resistance and international condemnation pose an enduring threat to his regime’s survival.

The regime’s failure to derive lasting benefits from provocations in Gaza underscores the resilience of opposition forces and the limitations of its coercive tactics. As Iran’s leadership navigates the complexities of internal dissent and external conflict, the specter of regime change looms ever larger, challenging its very foundations and prompting desperate measures to maintain a tenuous grip on power.

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu