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What Remains of the Wilayat al-Faqih System Internally and Externally?

The Wilayat al-Faqih system in Iran, which emerged after the seizure of the Iranian national revolution in 1979, is based on the principles of theocratic governance, with the supreme cleric assuming political and religious leadership. It marked a radical transformation in the regional and international political landscape. This unique system, built on the claim of the cleric's overall authority over all state and societal matters, has experienced both rises and falls, facing multiple internal and external challenges. After more than four decades, this fascist regime today faces increasing internal and external challenges, raising the question: What remains of the Wilayat al-Faqih system both internally and externally?
**Internal Situation: Economy, Security, and Popular Rejection of the Regime at the Forefront of Challenges**
Economically, the Iranian economy suffers from a deep crisis characterized by high inflation and unemployment rates, along with the deterioration of the national currency's value. This crisis has deep roots related to the regime's misguided economic policies, international sanctions imposed on Iran, as well as the decay of infrastructure and lack of investments. It has sparked widespread discontent, especially amidst social disparities and the increasing gap between the rich and poor, where the majority of the Iranian people live below the poverty line. Rampant corruption is considered one of the most prominent issues facing Iran, affecting various governmental and economic sectors. This corruption has led to a lack of public trust in the regime, in addition to its weakened capacity to achieve any form of sustainable development.
Popular rejection has been a response to the regime's failures and its successive governments' inability to achieve any meaningful success or to contain the enraged populace. As a result, the people have risen up, rejecting the entire system, expressed through the recurring public protests in Iran over the years, demanding regime change, improved living conditions, and respect for basic freedoms. These protests reflect the depth of popular discontent with the regime and pose a direct threat to its stability. Additionally, the sharp internal divisions within the clerical system between hardliners and moderates, and among various security agencies weaken the regime and decrease its ability to face external challenges. The struggle for power and influence within the regime among competing political factions also contributes to this. Although hardliners led by Khamenei dominate the system, there are significant differences among them regarding the management of the country and foreign policy, reflecting a fragmentation of vision and an inability to unify internal fronts.
**External Challenges**
The international sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies constitute effective economic penalties on the Iranian regime, ostensibly aimed at pressuring it to abandon its nuclear program and cease support for militias in the region. However, these sanctions severely impact the Iranian economy and crush the majority of the Iranian population without significantly affecting the regime itself, especially given the financial and political support it receives indirectly from the West, exacerbating the suffering of the Iranian people and casting shadows over Arab nations. The Iranian regime's relationships with Gulf Arab states are under severe strain due to its support for Shiite militias in the region, its interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries, and its promotion of drug trafficking in Arab states, leading to acute regional tensions that the mullahs exacerbate.
**International Isolation**: The Iranian regime has caused its own international isolation due to its aggressive policies and interference in the affairs of other countries, such as Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon, alongside its support for armed movements. The result of these policies has led to severe regional and international isolation and placed restrictions on any economic or diplomatic cooperation with the clerical regime.
Efforts from the Iranian national opposition, led by the People's Mujahedin Organization and the Iranian Resistance under Maryam Rajavi, call for the overthrow of the regime and present a democratic alternative that represents everyone. Their activities, both domestically and externally, have intensified and have become a significant challenge for the regime, contributing to the enforcement of both internal and external isolation on the Wilayat al-Faqih system as they work to expose its violations and mobilize public opinion against it.
**What Remains for the Regime?**
Amid escalating challenges, the Iranian regime attempts to maintain its survival by confronting internal dissent through repression. The regime relies heavily on security apparatuses to suppress any internal opposition through arbitrary arrests, repressing demonstrations, and constraining freedom of expression, providing it with a semblance of control over the internal situation despite rising public anger. In terms of exporting crises, the regime adopts a strategy of igniting external conflicts to divert attention and escape internal crises. This policy grants it some regional influence, but it remains an unsustainable strategy, threatening an imminent total collapse. The Wilayat al-Faqih system has manipulated religious doctrines as a means of intellectual and political control over the population domestically and regionally to enhance its dominance and expand its influence. Today, however, following the exposure of its regional conspiracies and the betrayal of its allies.
BY: Sami Khater
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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