Staged Images of Khamenei Aim to Project Strength as Regime Faces Internal Strains, Critics Claim
Recent photographs released by Iranian state media depicting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leading prayers have been dismissed by exiled opposition groups as a staged performance, designed to mask growing fissures within the Islamic Republic's power structure.
The images, published on January 31st, showed Khamenei at the tomb of the Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini—his first public appearance in weeks. Their release coincided with fresh verbal threats from Tehran aimed at the U.S. and European powers.
According to Ali Safavi, a senior official with the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the visuals serve a dual purpose: to project an image of unwavering control to the outside world, and more critically, to shore up morale within the ranks of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other security forces. These forces have been tasked with suppressing months of widespread, anti-government protests.
"This was never about reassuring the public," Safavi stated in an interview. "It's a morale operation for a security apparatus that is feeling the strain. The regime is attempting to broadcast strength precisely because it is grappling with profound internal weaknesses."
The publication of the photos aligned with a significant political development: a vote by the European Parliament to urge member states to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. In a swift and theatrical response, Iranian lawmakers appeared in parliament wearing IRGC uniforms in a show of defiance, with banners proclaiming the Guard as the "world's largest anti-terrorism organization."
Analysts view this parliamentary spectacle as a direct echo of the regime's reaction when the U.S. designated the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2019. "The Guard isn't just a military branch; it's the economic and political spine of the state," Safavi explained, noting the deep integration of former IRGC commanders across all government institutions.
The geopolitical backdrop remains tense. Following the U.S. deployment of a carrier strike group to the region, Khamenei issued a warning that any American military action would ignite a broader regional conflict. Meanwhile, the long-stalled negotiations over Iran's nuclear program continue to cast a shadow over diplomatic relations.
Voices from Observers
Dr. Anahita Rostami, Middle East Security Analyst, London: "The choreography is telling. Sequencing Khamenei's symbolic appearance with the parliamentary stunt creates a narrative of unity against external pressure. It's a classic diversion tactic, but one that may have diminishing returns as domestic economic and social pressures mount."
Marcus Thorne, Former Diplomat, Washington D.C.: "While the opposition's critique has merit, we must be cautious. The IRGC's institutional power should not be underestimated. These displays, however contrived, are part of the regime's toolkit for consolidating its base and signaling resilience to adversaries."
Sarah Chen, Human Rights Advocate, Berlin: "It's a grotesque pantomime. While the regime stages photoshoots at tombs, its forces are beating and killing young protesters on the streets. The world shouldn't be distracted by these propaganda images; the focus must remain on the brutal crackdown and the people's courage in resisting it."
Karim Al-Jabiri, Regional Affairs Commentator, Dubai: "The internal dynamics are complex. The regime is undoubtedly under stress, but the opposition's claim of imminent disintegration may be premature. The real question is how the balance shifts between the IRGC, the clerical establishment, and an increasingly restive population."