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Khamenei on the Brink: An External War to Suppress an Internal Uprising?

As the fires of war reach Khamenei's cloak, and in an attempt to manage the situation, Araqchi is touring countries in the region. In this context, the newspaper “Ham Mihan” wrote in its issue dated October 21: “War is poison… It is very easy to sit in a closed room and imagine that we are moving towards a grand plan and a comprehensive war, and we can call that the theory of resistance. But in reality, the victims are ordinary people who are killed in the war...”
This official media ignores that their cursed Imam, Khomeini, considered the inhumane war a “blessing” and described peace as a “burial of Islam.” When the Iranian Resistance forced him to accept a "ceasefire" thanks to the peace policy it pursued, he described it as a “cup of poison” worse than death.
What is even more striking is what was stated in the official newspaper “Jomhouri-ye Islami” in its October 20 issue, where it wrote: “One of the most dangerous concepts being propagated in our country is that welcoming war represents courage, while attempts to avoid it are seen as a form of fear. There should be no doubt that war is evil, and everyone should strive to avoid it. In this emotional climate, where some are beating the drums of war, the pursuit of peace and attempts to prevent war is, in itself, courage.”
Last week, dozens of narratives appeared on the state television and official media, reflecting despair and fear of the consequences of igniting war. The Friday prayer leaders appointed by Khamenei, who are accustomed to raising the morale of fearful people, actually exhibited an atmosphere of fear and despair. For instance, Mullah Mokhtari in Birjand stated: “They say: Sir, Israel and Palestine are fighting; what do we have to do with them? What do we have to do with Palestine? What do we have to do with Yemen, Syria, and Iraq? Let's take care of ourselves! We should spend the money we spend there on ourselves. If we spent this money here, such and such would happen. What do we have to do with their conflicts?!”
Ali Larijani, the Speaker of Parliament and the former head of Khamenei's broadcasting institution and current advisor, attempted to respond to the concerns of the fearful by saying: “Some wonder why Iran supported the resistance, leading to this animosity with Israel… As I mentioned, it is about our national security and interests” (State Television, October 20).
Larijani's words echoed the same logic expressed by Hossein Shariatmadari, Khamenei's representative in the Kayhan newspaper, who responded to the question, “Many people wonder why we are leading the country to the brink of war?” with: “We are paying the price for our security” (State Television, October 20).
The truth is that igniting war is the price for the regime's “security,” and the bloodthirsty successor uses the Palestinian issue as a pretext to prevent the uprising inside Iran, a fact that has been clear for over a year. Khamenei has repeatedly stated that if he stopped igniting wars outside Iran's borders, he would have to face popular uprisings and combat the uprising's youth and resistance units in Tehran and other Iranian cities.
What is new is the wave of fear and panic prevailing among the “core forces of the regime” under Khamenei as the likelihood of strategic defeat increases. In this context, a governmental expert wrote in an article titled “Decline of National Power”: “Amid a complex war, we must ask: Has our ideal regional policy strengthened our national position or weakened it?... In last October, after Hamas's attack on Israel, I repeatedly mentioned that Israel seeks to destroy Gaza, then turn towards Hezbollah in Lebanon, and finally Iran. With the assassinations and explosions witnessed in Gaza and Lebanon, these predictions began to be realized, and the current concern is that the scope of the war may extend to Iran as planned by Israel” (Setareh Sobh newspaper, October 19).
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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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