Regime Ideology

Overview

Swivel-eyed anti-American and antisemitic conspiracy theories fill the pages of Iran’s vile PressTV. But it’s not just regime lackeys airing these views. A cadre of credentialed Americans regularly churns out propaganda for the blacklisted Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) news outlet.

The Iranian regime’s failures at governance are triggering an intense backlash both at home and in Iraq, where Iran serves as a key power broker. In both countries, what began as demonstrations against economic privation coalesced into outpourings of anger at Iran’s revolutionary government, correctly seen as the root cause behind the protestors’ grievances.  Protests are also rocking Lebanon, where Iran maintains a vested interest in preserving the status quo.

On August 6, the Trump administration took its first concrete steps toward withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) by re-imposing a tranche of sanctions that had been suspended under the terms of nuclear deal.

While Iranian President Hassan Rouhani may present a moderate stance to the outside world, those adopting a hopeful attitude towards a regime that has historically broken many promises do so at their own peril. Rouhani alone cannot change Iran’s agenda, as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei still calls the shots.