OPINION:
While U.S. and international media repeat the official line that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash caused by “technical issues,” those with an ability to peek behind Iran’s totalitarian curtain are quietly asking an important question: Was this an accident or an assassination?
Subscribe to have The Washington Times’ Higher Ground delivered to your inbox every Sunday. And don’t miss The Washington Times’ new Threat Status daily newsletter that keeps you one step ahead on world security news.
While an accident is a possible cause for the crash, experience and logic lead me to believe it was yet another assassination by the violent, oppressive regime to solidify power for Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei. Let me explain why.
Khamenei, the second leader of Iran since 1989, is aging. And, at 85, he is reportedly having health issues. The critical challenge for the Islamic regime now is preparing for a risky transition upon Khamenei’s death.
Until a few years ago there were three main candidates for the top spot: former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Ebrahim Raisi, and Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the current supreme leader.
Rafsanjani, who had been a key element in Khamenei’s election, mysteriously died in 2017. Members of his family were suspicious and alleged murder after Rafsanjani’s body was discovered in a swimming pool near his office. Officials claimed the cause of death was drowning after he suffered a cardiac arrest. No witnesses were present at the time and mysteriously the security cameras around the pool were turned off.
SEE ALSO: Iran is a nation on the cusp of a spiritual transformation
Now, following Sunday’s helicopter crash, the two possible opponents to the Supreme Leader’s son have been eliminated.
Khamenei has always wanted his son to succeed him despite the opposition of the people of Iran and most of the clerics. To qualify his son for the nation’s top position, Khamenei promoted Mojtaba as an “Ayatollah,” the highest rank one can achieve in Islam.
We must remember that in regimes run by dictators, such assassinations are “normal” and happen all the time. We have seen the likes of those ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jung Un.
Again, it is possible the deadly crash was merely an accident. It’s also possible Israel was involved. But I think this is unlikely because Raisi was not involved in determining Iran’s foreign policy. Foreign policy has always been dictated by Khamenei, the constitutional commander-in-chief. Raisi and his government were merely executors of Khamenei’s orders in all aspects. I do not expect his death will have an impact on Iran/Israel relationship.
The Islamic government of Iran is so unpopular with the people of Iran that when the news of Raisi’s death was announced, many people rejoiced and even many came to streets singing and dancing. Some even celebrated with fireworks. The people had nicknamed Raisi “the butcher of Tehran” because of his role in killing over 10,000 prisoners in just one week back in 1988.
Upon the news of Raisi’s death, Khamenei was apathetic, declared a five-day mourning, and declared that people should not worry because the government will continue its rule as before — nothing will change.
SEE ALSO: Iranian president’s sudden death sets stage for political power struggle in Tehran
While this event will not have any short-term impact on the people or Christians in Iran, soon Iran will enter a chaotic and uncertain period when Khamenei dies. The clerics will try to accomplish a peaceful transition of power because they are afraid the people will organize another uprising that might topple the Islamic Government this time. Therefore, Khamenei and his thugs are ready to confront and stifle any uprising with maximum violence.
The Islamic leaders of Iran fear the Christian movement taking place within their borders. They know that the majority of Iranians have rejected Islam and a growing number of them are becoming Christians. They know that Christians, when united, can have a significant impact on the future of Iran. That is why we have seen the persecution of Christians on the rise in recent years. During the upcoming transition of power, we can expect the persecution of Iranian Christians to go to new peaks.
According to Jeremiah 49:34-49 before we see Iran turn to Christ in a major way, there will be a great suffering.
At Iran Alive Ministries, we have been preparing Christians for those hard days. In fact, in January and February of this year, we shared a sermon series on our 24/7 satellite channel, broadcast into Iran, letting people know that hard days are ahead of us. We shared that persecution is normal for Christians, and it will only get worse before it gets better.
We also shared hope. As Luke 21:13 teaches, the dark days ahead give Christians an opportunity to bear witness for the light of Christ in the darkness. We challenged our people to be courageous and to help the afflicted. We shared that as Christians, we must be ready to love and serve people. And during the tough times ahead, we must be prepared to gather the harvest of souls into His Kingdom.
–
Dr. Hormoz Shariat is the founder of Iran Alive Ministries, which uses Satellite TV to reach the millions of lost and broken people in Iran and the rest of the Middle East. He is the author of “Iran’s Great Awakening.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.