Altering the anger compass, Soleimani’s killing saves Mullahs from revolution

Nora Bendary

Sadness has clouded the scene in Iran after the murder of General Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, however, the Mullahs regime knows that Washington actually did Tehran a favor without knowing it.

Iranian activists have been saying that the situation in Iran is different than before the killing of Soleimani, as some opinions have shifted regarding Iran’s policies that were rejected by the people of Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, who used to protest against Tehran’s schemes in the region.

After the killing of Soleimani, the language of the mullahs’ officials shifted and began calling on Iranian people to unite against the United States and to strive to strengthen their regime and preserve their 1979 Iranian revolution while adhering to a belief that Iran deserves the death of more than one leader for the sake of achieving its economic, political and ideological interests.

Moreover, Tehran demanded the Iraqi people – who revolted against it – to confront Washington, claiming that it wants to bring the region into wars.

Tensions dramatically escalated between Tehran and Washington following the targeted killing of General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq’s pro-government Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), in US drone attack in Baghdad

Iran has also pressed through their arms and officials in Iraq to make the Iraqi parliament issue a resolution demanding the departure of American forces from the country, which exactly what Iran wants in order to impose sole control over Baghdad.

Journalist Osama al-Hitaimi, an expert on Iranian affairs, told The Reference in an interview that many have shed the light on the Iran’s losses after the killing of Soleimani, but did not realize the advantages it gains from such loss.

He pointed out that the IRGC-affiliated Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) now has more influence over Iraqi political elites and administrations.

He also added that the increase in oil prices by more than 4%, which would cause a crisis in the world oil market, would be in Iran’s interest, which was affirmed by the Iranian Oil Minister himself, not only that, but that the voice of the Iranian resistance also dimmed after the Iranian regime issued a confrontational speech against America and its plans to strike Iran.

Among these gains, Hitaimi said, is also affirming Iran’s regional and international position, and that the United States, with its statements and stances, appeared to be wanting to avoid engaging with Iran in a wide or comprehensive war. Moreover, Iran forced some countries participating in the international coalition to seriously consider withdrawing from Iraq and the region, which also highlights Iran’s influence more.

Iran also guaranteed the sympathy and support of some Palestinain factions, as for example, Hamas and Al-Jihad mourned the killing of Soleimani, which many considered a violation to tens of thousands of Soleimani’s victims, according to Hitaimi.

As for the nuclear agreement, he said all international powers would gather to reach a truce between the Americans and the Iranians, especially with regard to the nuclear agreement.