Another day, another assassination of a high-ranking Iranian official. The current war began three weeks ago with the killing of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, by Israel. And in less than 24 hours, between March 17 and 18, the IDF, which Mossad kept exquisitely well-informed, has managed to kill three of Iran’s most important leaders: first, Ali Larijani, the head of the Supreme National Security Council and the leader of the regime while Mojtaba Khamenei continues to remain off-stage; second, Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Basij militia force that is in charge of internal repression, including the mass murder of 36,5000 unarmed protesters on January 8 and 9; third, Esmaeil Khatib, the Minister of Intelligence.
Ali Larijani was reputed to be running things after Ali Khamenei’s killing and the wounding of his son Mojtaba. Larijani came from a prominent clerical family and was known as a hardliner. He taunted the Americans a week ago, warning Trump: “The Ashura-loving nation of Iran does not fear your paper threats. Even those greater than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation. Watch out for yourself — lest you be eliminated!” A week later, on March 18, Larijani’s funeral was held in Tehran.
I was amazed to learn that Larijani had not only written a book on Kant and Mathematics, but also written a book, possibly unpublished, on the philosophy of Saul Kripke. Kripke, whom I saw much of when he lived above me many years ago in Cambridge, Mass., was the son of a rabbi in Omaha. The rabbi, an otherworldly man, became rich because early in Warren Buffett’s career, he took a shine to Rabbi Kripke and convinced him to invest in Berkshire Hathaway. Poor Ali Larijani. With several books to his name on Kant, Kripke, and David Lewis, he might have had a career in academic life in the West, but in the end Larijani decided to remain in Iran and chose a different line of work, one less political and less cutthroat.
Gholamreza Soleimani was the former head of the Basij, the regime’s half-million-man militia whose main task was to suppress internal dissent, to keep the regime in power whatever it took. As the world saw on January 8 and January 9, the Basij did not hesitate to murder nearly forty thousand unarmed protesters.
And just now comes the glad news that the IDF, just a day after dispatching Larijani and Solimeini, has managed to kill a third leader, the Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib. Khatib had a long career at the very top of Iran’s nomenklatura. As a young man, he was a supporter of Ayatollah Khomeini, and later worked in the office of the president. He was most recently the head of Iran’s Intelligence and a close aide of Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s nominal leader who hasn’t been seen since his father was killed.
Who’s going to step up next to take their places in Iran’s hierarchy? And how long do think those three musketeers will live after their promotions? You can place your bet on their fates at Polymarket.com. Just a few weeks ago, someone predicted the date of the demise of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and made a cool $553,000. What do you think? A week? Maybe two?
࿗Infidel࿘ says
On Tousi TV, there was one report that President Pezeshkian was begging the Israelis not to assassinate him, and offering a schedule for his resignation. Tousi mentioned that Pezeshkian has no power to do anything, so he didn’t matter, but he should be held accountable for what’s happened in Iran
I happen to disagree. I think all the regime talking heads who have any international visibility – like Pezeshkian and Aragchi, along w/ the 2 other members of the temporary leadership council Ejei and that other cleric, should be taken out. At that point, the regime will be completely headless, and then Reza Pahlavi can begin his attempts to have his transition team take over
Taffy says
You are correct! All who have international visibility should be taken out. The US and Israel have to send a message that the only way they will be spared by the US and Israel is to unconditionally surrender. The Potsdam Declaration worked for the US, Britain and China against imperial Japan, and a similar plan will work for the US and Israel against the Iranian leadership. Incidentally, unconditional surrender for Japan did not insulate any war criminal, and if Iran unconditionally surrenders, no one should be given immunity for war crimes or crime against humanity. The ~35,000 Iranian citizens that these war criminals massacred should be forced to face trial by the Iranian people and dealt with accordingly. To the extent that they are not already dead, those that facilitated international terrorism should also be brought to trial.
Tony says
Yes. In hopes of shining like Allah’s brilliant stars, Ali Larijani chose deceitful Allah’s exquisite ‘Garden Paradise’ by killing and being killed for Allah’s Cause to make Islam supreme(Qur’an 9:111, etc.). Muslims know that Kripke and Kant are infidels destined for the Hell Fire. Ali’s sacrifice is a WIN-WIN for Muslims and Non-Muslims, a celebration for all.
Westman says
It seems the leadership fears have reached irrational levels. General Ali Mohammad Naini threatens that world tourists sites will be targeted and hours later, well, he’s dead.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/iran-threatens-world-tourism-sites/ar-AA1Z4CHM
This conflict is pivotal in setting what level of Islamic pugilism will be tolerated by the International community. When Europe nations opt-out of the Iran war, they are giving clear signals that they will tolerate internal Islamic violence and stand back from Sharia displacing civic law.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Speaking of tourist sites, looks like the regime, while dying, is trying to take out iconic Persian heritage sites in places like Persepolis, Ecbatana,… I do hope that the Iranians on the ground can prevent them from doing it, and keep those intact. Once Iran is free, they could use both the tourism, as well as using those sites to reclaim their heritage