[No One Listens to the Call for Negotiations, Iranian President Brings Forth Khamenei]
Iran's reformist president, Pezeshkian, has recently been advocating for U.S.-Iran negotiations. According to him, Iran should seize the current favorable position to quickly reach an agreement with the United States and end this state of "neither war nor peace."
However, Pezeshkian's stance is unpopular within today's Iranian political landscape. The Revolutionary Guard insists that the conflict must conclude under Iran’s conditions—essentially demanding that the U.S. recognize that the Strait of Hormuz belongs to Iran and allow Iran to charge tolls. This remains the crux of the issue. Furthermore, hardline members of parliament have also criticized Pezeshkian, accusing his statements of surrendering to the enemy and sending a signal of weakness.
One might say, "You don’t know the value of rice and firewood until you manage the household." As Iran’s president, Pezeshkian must consider domestic livelihood and economic conditions. Current U.S. sanctions and blockades have severely deteriorated Iran’s economy and people’s living standards. Pezeshkian is deeply concerned that if this continues, large-scale protests similar to those seen earlier this year may erupt again.
To bolster his position, Pezeshkian directly invoked the late former Supreme Leader Khamenei. On August 22, he stated: "Khamenei, while alive, supported resolving long-standing hostilities with the United States through diplomatic means. At the time, the supreme leader explicitly declared, 'We must break out of this neither-war-nor-peace state; Iran must demonstrate strength while also approaching problems rationally and constructively.'"
Yet invoking Khamenei proved ineffective, as the latter has passed away, and real power now lies in the hands of the Revolutionary Guard.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1874312215457856/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.