Khamenei Criticizes 'Some People's Prescription for Surrendering to the Enemy'

Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, criticized on Saturday, July 9, during a student ceremony of the Revolutionary Guards, the 'prescription of some for surrendering to the enemy,' stating that some say 'let's surrender so that the enemy's cunning does not continue.' According to the official website of the leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized: 'They do not know that the cost of surrendering is much greater than standing firm.' He did not provide further details regarding the 'prescription of some for surrendering,' but his remarks may refer to a new wave of protests against the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic, which has recently been evident in the statements of a reformist member of parliament, in the slogans of street protesters in Iranian market gatherings, and in a recent statement by over a hundred political and civil activists. The deteriorating economic situation in Iran, worsened by the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, along with the expansion of social protests in recent months, has posed a serious challenge to the government of Hassan Rouhani and the Islamic Republic as a whole. Behrouz Faraji, a member of the Hope faction in parliament, on Wednesday, July 6, severely criticized the foreign and regional policies of the Islamic Republic, pointing out that Iran needs '60 billion dollars' in annual investment, and questioned the officials of the Islamic Republic: 'Why should we spend national wealth without gaining secondary economic benefits in other parts of the world instead of prioritizing spending on national interests and eradicating poverty, unemployment, and hunger? Why must we always live in fear of war, sanctions, and distressing news?' He asked, 'Which international conspiracy has destroyed the environment of our rivers, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater? Which foreign hand has deprived our people of clean air? Why has harmonizing with the global community become so difficult for us?' Meanwhile, the continued support of the Islamic Republic for maintaining Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria and enduring global sanctions due to the continuation of current nuclear and foreign policies has led to severe criticism from street protesters. 'Leave Syria, think about us' is among the slogans heard in protest marches last December and in recent protests by market traders. In recent weeks, the rising exchange rates of foreign currencies have led to unprecedented price increases of imported goods, pushing the Tehran market and shopping centers in various cities of Iran into relative recession, resulting in strikes and protests met with arrests and tear gas. Ali Khamenei, in part of his remarks on Saturday, attributed the existence of these challenges to the 'design of the enemy' in the current situation, stating: 'The enemy's plan is to create a rift and separation between the system and the people, and this design shows their foolishness because they do not know that the Islamic Republic is nothing but the Iranian nation, and these two are inseparable.' Ayatollah Khamenei's reference may relate to recent statements by high-ranking officials in the U.S. and Israel, who have directly addressed the Iranian people on social media while criticizing the policies of the Islamic Republic. For instance, the Israeli Prime Minister said last Thursday that the protests in Iran indicate that international economic pressures on the Islamic Republic are bearing fruit. On the other hand, recently, over a hundred political and civil activists inside and outside Iran issued a statement referring to the 'global' reception of the U.S. President's meeting with the North Korean leader and the 'dangerous regional situation,' calling for 'direct negotiations without any preconditions' between Iran and the U.S. This action provoked a strong reaction from Nasir Makarem Shirazi, a Shia cleric, and several Friday prayer leaders, who on Friday, July 1, labeled the signatories of this statement as examples of 'betrayal of the homeland,' 'servitude to America,' and 'treason.'