TEHRAN - On August 9, 2024, The Telegraph published an article titled “Iran’s new president battles revolutionary guard to stop all-out war with Israel” by Akhtar Makoii. The following points will discuss the content of this article.

The assassination operation of martyr Haniyeh on July 31, 2024, like all assassinations by the Zionist regime, consists of two distinct phases. While most attention is focused on the first phase of the assassination, which involves the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, the second phase of the operation, which is no less important than the first, has been overlooked. In the first phase, the assassination of the former Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, was carried out with the support and green light from Western countries. This was not the first assassination by the Zionist regime, and it is unlikely to be the last. Therefore, to save the Zionist regime from the pressures created, there is a need to implement the second phase so that this regime can navigate the consequences of this assassination with minimal cost and prepare itself for future massacres. 

In the second phase, just like in the first phase, the West plays a decisive role. However, this time, it is the media and Western diplomats who are managing the narrative in an attempt to save the Zionist regime from repercussions. In fact, the section related to Iran in these media outlets has turned into an operations room for the second phase of the assassination, and the Iran-related part represents the easiest job position in Western media. Finding reliable sources and fact-checking is of minimal necessity in this area, and even writing a relatively weak fictional story fulfills the objectives of these media.

Analyzing the collection of published writings in these outlets, although tedious, provides the reader with a specific pattern of the type of literature used in these writings. It seems that an unwritten rule compels writers in this field to leave their professional capabilities at the door before entering the section of Iran in Western media. This Telegraph note is another baseless writing published for the implementation of the second phase of the terror operation - that is, to save the Zionist regime from retaliation.

Further, by examining parts of this note, we can reach the general pattern followed by Western media in this field.

The focus of the published note is to emphasize the existence of division and disagreement in the high levels of governance in Iran in response to the assassination of Martyr Haniyeh. The author writes: “Tehran’s authorities are divided over how to respond to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader, in the Iranian capital on July 31.” Also, the author quotes the anonymous aid of President Pezeshkian and writes: “The IRGC’s insistence on targeting Israel is more about undermining his week-long presidency.” The author, citing questionable sources, claims that Iran's potential response is to undermine the president and highlight a division in the authorities' decision-making. However, Iran's last direct attack on Israel occurred on April 13, 2024, in response to the assault on the Iranian consulate, prior to the election of the current president, and recently, the president has emphasized the need for retaliation against the Zionist regime in numerous phone calls with other world leaders.

Public communications and visits by the president naturally carry more credibility than the unspecified sources referenced by the author of The Telegraph.

In another part of the note, citing a source, it is written: “These recent exercises in the country’s western border are just to intimidate Mr Pezeshkian. Sepah [the IRGC] is very insistent on targeting Israel and they think it is easy.” President Pezeshkian has been a member of parliament for many years before becoming the President of Iran and has a history of serving as a minister. This is not the first time he has faced sensitive conditions, and attributing intimidation to him is an insult. On the other hand, the decision to attack Israel is not made solely by the IRGC and if a decision to attack is made, other military organizations, including the army, will also participate in the attack. Just as in the April attack on Israel, the army responded alongside the IRGC to Israel's aggressions against the consulate, demonstrating that Iranian military forces are capable of attacking Israel again. Regarding the ease or difficulty of attacking Israel, military personnel who have recently attacked Israel are better positioned to judge than a journalist who cannot even hold Western countries accountable for their crimes in their own country.

In another part of the note, the author quotes an unspecified source again: “Mr. Pezeshkian fears that any direct attack on Israel would have serious consequences.” As mentioned, if President Pezeshkian had any fears, he would not emphasize revenge in his various discussions with the media and foreign leaders. The president is also well aware of the concept of deterrence and knows that not attacking can have more serious consequences than attacking, and Israel has repeatedly shown that if it is not put in its place, it will continue its crimes with even more audacity.

Additionally, the author uses the phrase “suspected Israeli strike” when referring to the attack on the Iranian consulate. This means that an attack that has provoked global reactions and has never been denied by Israel still appears suspicious to this author!

In the following, the author again quotes his sources, stating: “He is aware that the IRGC aims to draw the country into a war.” At the same time, while the Zionist regime is committing genocide in Gaza, violating Iran's sovereignty, and assassinating guests of the country, the author suggests that the IRGC's defense of national sovereignty is leading the country toward war.

As noted, in the second phase of the operation, the author emphasizes the divisions among Iranian authorities, highlights the potential consequences of revenge, and fosters an atmosphere of fear regarding retaliation. Such narratives create a safe environment for Zionist regime, allowing it to evade the repercussions of its actions while planning future operations. It is evident that a decision has been made to seek revenge, and no number of articles like this will change the fact that the Zionist regime will ultimately face the consequences of its actions.