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The execution of the Swedish-Iranian doctor and researcher Ahmadreza Djalali may be part of a high and dangerous power play in Iran. The country’s hardline leadership wants to set examples that show who is in control, according to one expert.
Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
– We cannot ignore that there is a power struggle at all levels in Iran, says Mohammad Fazlhashemi, professor of Islamic theology and philosophy at Uppsala University.
The hardliners, also called the main ones, see the risk of losing control of the country to more moderate pragmatists, when the political map of the world is redrawn.
One important reason is that Democrat Joe Biden is replacing President Donald Trump. Biden appears to want to resume the nuclear deal with Iran, something Trump withdrew.
“As recently as today (Tuesday), Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that negotiations had been attempted but had not produced particularly good results,” Fazlhashemi said.
– The Hawks have had wind in their sails since Trump withdrew from the nuclear power deal. Now they want to block the pragmatic forces in Iran, when Biden takes over.
Leadership can thus make decisions “that hurt at first, but may be good in the end,” according to spiritual leader Khamenei.
The execution of the death penalty against Djalali may be part of this game, although Fazlhashemi points out that there are different interpretations.
The regime must also address problems with the price hike, which has increased by more than 40 percent last year; unemployment is around 24 percent and the corona pandemic is hitting the population hard.
In addition, he awaits a presidential election, scheduled for June. A candidate, General Hossein Dehghan, of the powerful Revolutionary Guard is running, indicating the will of the hawks to also control the presidency. It is also close to Khamenei.
Attempts to influence the Iranian regime to stop an execution will be difficult.
– One should not give up until it is done, says Fazlhashemi, but points out that Sweden and the EU do not have great opportunities to put pressure on Tehran.
Europe proved that it could not respond to the United States, while the Trump administration strengthened contacts with arch-enemies of Iran such as Saudi Arabia and Israel.
– Iran has left Europe and the EU. I think Iran needs all the friends it can get, now that it is the era of Trump. But they don’t reason like that, says Professor Fazlhashemi.