Iranian Users' Tweets; Ghafoori and Karimi Respond to Khamenei's Jibes

Hours after the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic spoke against critical athletes, Iranian media reported that Voria Ghafoori, an Iranian footballer, was summoned by the Football Federation's security for his stance against Mohammad Javad Zarif's remarks about supporting Palestine. In his latest speech, Ali Khamenei warned 'some people' who, according to him, 'use the country's security and do their work and sports, and then break the salt shaker,' stating, 'Let us not forget how security is achieved.' Although Khamenei did not provide further details about these individuals, it seems his remarks were directed at the reactions of Ali Karimi and Voria Ghafoori, former and current players of the Iranian national football team, to the recent comments made by the Foreign Minister. Zarif had stated that he 'takes pride in defending the Palestinian people' and added, 'Today we are all under pressure,' but Ali Karimi reacted on Instagram by asking, 'Mr. Doctor, which (we) are under pressure? (We) or (we) you exactly?' Voria Ghafoori also addressed Zarif, saying, 'You are not under pressure; in fact, ordinary people are under pressure.' This incident sparked significant reactions on social media, leading to widespread support for Ali Karimi and Voria Ghafoori. A user named 'Agha' wrote, 'I take my hat off to Voria_Ghafoori and Ali_Karimi for having many concerns, including the pain of the people. Good for them.' 'Kasra' also noted that we should thank 'Ali Karimi and Voria Ghafoori to this extent. I admit they know nothing about politics. But in days when the salt on the people's wounds has increased, these friends' responses are a reaction to the absolute silence prevailing in society.' The issue of 'the silence of some officials and well-known sports and cultural figures' regarding the state of society prompted a user named 'Mehrdad' to tweet: 'You vote for Aref and Motahari and the Hope List, etc., so that Voria Ghafoori and Ali Karimi and actors and singers can speak your words?' 'Mehrnoush' referred to these two footballers as 'the voice of the forty-year-old suppressed anger of the Iranian people,' and 'Cesar Saman' tweeted using the names of these two footballers as hashtags, stating, 'Be a government to be forgotten, be a people to remain forever.' Mehrabali, a trainer, also wrote on Instagram that 'the truth has always been unpleasant for many,' adding that Karimi and Ghafoori are 'not alone' and have been 'proven' for the people of Iran. Although a user with the pseudonym 'Resonance' praised Khamenei's recent jibes at some athletes, stating that he 'mocked us by saying you act so weakly that the leadership must step in to respond to doubts,' another user named 'Heinrich Himmler' had a different opinion. He tweeted: 'Don't talk so that the boss doesn't get upset!!! This is the story of our country these days... Yes, Your Highness! But history has shown that these suppressed angers do the same thing to many as they did with Gaddafi.' According to Mohsen Sohanaki, 'Zarif's response to Ali Karimi and the leadership's response to athletes showed that different parts of the regime are united in dealing with public opinions! I wish they were this united against enemies and not well-wishers.' In this context, Voria Ghafoori's summons to the Ministry of Sports' security 'due to his criticism of Zarif's remarks' reflects the severe governmental repression and the risk of protests becoming 'underground.'