Do Not Drive Iran into the Hell of War

After the tragedy that led to the death of hundreds of pilgrims, resulting in the death of 465 Iranian pilgrims and the disappearance of several others, Ayatollah Khamenei demanded an apology from the Saudis on 1394/07/05. Subsequently, in a meeting with commanders and army officials on 1394/07/08, he stated that any disrespect towards the bodies of the deceased Iranian pilgrims would provoke a harsh and severe reaction from Iran. The bodies of 308 of the deceased have been returned to Iran in three phases, while 85 bodies remain in Mecca and Jeddah, and the fate of 71 others is still unknown. All Iranian pilgrims are expected to return to the country by 25 Mehr. According to claims, following Ayatollah Khamenei's threats, Saudi Arabia has retreated and changed its behavior towards Iranians. Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi stated on 94/7/9 that the decisive and clear statements of the leader prompted Saudi Arabia to change its approach and cooperate in identifying the bodies and missing individuals. Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani also mentioned on 94/7/9 that prior to the leader's remarks, the Saudis were not responding correctly to Iran, but after the leader's words, the tone of the Saudi government changed. Ayatollah Javadi Amoli remarked that the leader's dignified message and clear addresses against the Al Saud regime were encouraging and led to a noticeable change in their responses. Ayatollah Alam al-Huda stated that the firmness of the leader's words caused a change in Al Saud's behavior towards Iran. The head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization and the deputy foreign minister officially announced that as soon as the leader made such a threat, Al Saud changed its behavior and completely retreated from its hostile positions. These flattering remarks, which were merely praise for the leader, did not align with reality. There was neither an apology nor a visible change in Saudi Arabia's policy. However, flatterers cannot accept that the leader's threats do not work in regional disputes as they do within the country. Military threats from the Revolutionary Guards generals made it clear that Ayatollah Khamenei's threats would not change anything. Therefore, the day after the flattering claims of the clerics, the Revolutionary Guards commanders came to the scene and escalated the situation to military threats. For example, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, stated on 94/7/11 that the Guards are fully prepared for a swift and harsh response from Iran to hold Al Saud accountable for the horrific Mina tragedy and restore the rights of the victims. He emphasized that the Guards are ready for any action, at any time and place, to defend the dignity of Muslims, particularly the revolutionary people of Iran, against the oppressive and ignorant rulers of Al Saud. Admiral Ali Fadavi, commander of the Navy of the Guards, stated in an interview that Saudi military capabilities are not comparable to those of the United States and that Saudi Arabia is entirely dependent on the Persian Gulf. He warned that if malevolence reaches a point where restraint is no longer a divine duty, it becomes a divine obligation to punish those who cannot even calculate their own interests correctly. Major General Mohsen Rezaei, dressed in military attire, remarked that thousands lost their lives during this year's Hajj, and instead of fostering unity among Muslims, the Saudis have become agents of Israel and the United States. He warned that Iran is not war-seeking but that the Saudis and their allies are looking for war with Iran. He cautioned against provoking Iran, likening it to playing with a lion's tail. General Yadollah Javani, a senior advisor to the Supreme Leader's representative in the Guards, stated that the era of Iran's restraint has ended with the Mina tragedy, and the leader has indicated that if there is to be a confrontation, Iran's hand is free in the region. Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, head of Ayatollah Khamenei's office, also stated that the leader will not let Al Saud go unpunished. In response, the Saudis not only continued their actions in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq but also reacted very harshly regarding the Hajj. Abdullah bin Yahya al-Muallimi, Saudi Arabia's permanent representative to the United Nations, stated that one of the main factors highlighted is preventing Iran from exploiting the painful incident that occurred for the pilgrims in Mina for political purposes. The regional power struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran has reached dangerous levels. Saudi Arabia has long sought military action against Iran, and they have bombarded Yemen instead of Iran. They have also expressed concerns over Iran's nuclear negotiations with the U.S. and have sought to independently pursue their interests in the region. Saudi Arabia has become a primary financial and military source for terrorist groups in collaboration with Qatar, the UAE, and Turkey. The military threats must be taken seriously, as they are not neutral. The Financial Times has noted that the risk of war between Iran and Saudi Arabia is high, and tensions between the two countries are dangerously explosive. The military threat language is employed in a context where sectarian divides have been activated, replacing the main divide of dictatorship versus democracy. The corrupt regimes in the region have diverted the Arab Spring into ethnic and sectarian conflicts. If democracy advocates do not defend against military actions, the region may become a hell compared to the current situation. Silence means complicity, and regret later will yield no benefit.