Iran Update, May 23, 2024
Iran is capitalizing on the presence of senior Axis of Resistance officials in Tehran for Ebrahim Raisi’s funeral to coordinate and cohere their approaches to the Israel–Hamas war. Iranian leaders held two meetings with senior Axis of Resistance officials in Tehran on May 23.[1] The first meeting included senior IRGC officers and representatives from several Palestinian militias, Lebanese Hezbollah, and the Houthis.[2] The participants discussed the “continuation of the jihad and struggle until the complete victory of the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip.”
Photos published by Iranian state media indicate that the following individuals were in that meeting:
IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami
IRGC Quds Force Commander Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani
Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Deputy Secretary General Mohammad al Hindi
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Deputy Secretary General Jamil Mezher
Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Naim Qassem
Houthi spokesperson Mohammad Abdul Salam
The second meeting involved the following individuals based on photos published by Iranian state media:
Acting Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Bagheri Kani
Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh
Hamas founder Mousa Abu Marzouk
Hamas Deputy Leader in the West Bank Zaher Jabarin
PIJ Deputy Secretary General Mohammad al Hindi
PIJ Leader in Lebanon Ihsan Ataya
PFLP Deputy Secretary General Jamil Mezher
The publication of this information is especially noteworthy given that Iranian state media does not typically report on such meetings in such detail. Iran likely published the information to signal the close alignment and cooperation between Tehran and its regional partners and proxies.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-may-23-2024
Iran Update, May 24, 2024
Iran’s political factions have begun to maneuver and prepare for the Iranian presidential election in June 2024 to replace Ebrahim Raisi. Iranian reformist politicians, including former President Mohammad Khatami, have argued in recent days that the election needs political diversity to encourage voter turnout.[15] These reformists are responding to how Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has allowed hardliners to marginalize moderates and reformists to an unprecedented level in recent years. Moderate and reformist figures argued that Khamenei allowing them to compete in elections would drive electoral participation, which has dropped to record lows in recent years. Reform Front spokesperson Javad Emam stated that reformist politicians will convene on May 26 to discuss the upcoming election.[16] Social media accounts have suggested that former Parliament Speaker and prominent moderate Ali Larijani plans to run as a candidate in the election.[17]
Iranian hardliners appear to be similarly organizing themselves ahead of the election. Social media accounts reported on May 24 that prominent hardliner Saeed Jalili plans to register as a candidate.[18] This rumor comes after an Iranian opposition outlet reported that elements in the regime have tried to convince Khamenei to prevent Jalili from running.[19] These elements include some moderates, such as Ali Larijani. They also include several hardliners, such as Expediency Discernment Council Chairman Sadegh Amoli Larijani, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and adviser to the supreme leader Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-may-24-2024