Reiterating Familiar Claims; Ali Khamenei: America's Agenda is to Incite Ethnic Conflicts, Religious Differences, and Gender Issues

Today, Ali Khamenei, in a meeting with a group identified as 'the people of Sistan and Baluchestan and South Khorasan,' claimed that the U.S. government has created a group called the 'Crisis Group' tasked with 'creating crises in countries, including Iran.' According to the leader of the Islamic Republic, this 'group' is responsible for 'provoking points in the country that they believe will lead to crises.' Khamenei stated that the U.S. and this 'Crisis Group' have concluded that in Iran, 'ethnic conflicts, religious differences, and gender issues' are points that should be 'provoked for crisis creation.' He regarded these issues as part of the 'U.S. agenda' and emphasized that 'the enemy is serious in its hostility, and we are also very serious in countering the enemy.' Khamenei's remarks come at a time when Iran has faced various crises in recent years, including high inflation, instability in economic decisions, a housing crisis, a significant increase in class disparity, widespread poverty, systemic corruption in various sectors, inefficiency in the fair judicial system, and extensive gender, religious, ideological, and political discrimination, which most experts believe stem from the inefficacy of governance in the Islamic Republic. One of the slogans expressed by protesters in recent years during various protests was: 'Our enemy is right here; they lie that it is America.' In part of his speech today regarding the situation in Sistan and Baluchestan, Khamenei said: 'If the resolutions made in the early 2000s, when I came to Baluchestan, had been implemented by the governments, the face of the province would have changed today. There was laziness and negligence on the part of some governments. Today, thank God, they are busy, working, and making efforts. I hope and, God willing, this hope will bear fruit.' The leader of the Islamic Republic, as always, attributed shortcomings and deficiencies to others and did not take any responsibility for the 'absolute powers' he holds. A news agency reported on inflation and household economies; the livelihood basket for Tehran residents exceeded 23 million tomans. Workers' livelihoods continue to be under the threat of non-implementation of laws; 5,900 businesses in Iran did not implement the classification of jobs. Khamenei, without mentioning his role in imposing sanctions, asked Raisi to neutralize the sanctions by reducing inflation. Protests over economic issues continue in Iran; telecommunications retirees gathered in 12 provinces. The oil company is a major creditor of the government; the government's debt grew by 61%.