Iranian officials should put aside political infighting and focus on promoting national unity ahead of elections, particularly now that the country has become the target of multiple propaganda campaigns, a political analyst says.
"Under the current circumstances, the only way out is to work toward maintaining national unity and gaining people's support," Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri wrote in a recent article published by the Iranian Diplomacy website.
He added that tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear agreement and Persian Gulf Arab states' repeated warnings to Tehran have put the country in a very difficult situation.
"It seems extremely likely that a Western-Arab coalition could be formed against Iran to force it into negotiating a new agreement in place of the existing nuclear deal. Given the inaction by Russia and China as well as domestic and regional issues facing Iran's friends, including Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, the Islamic Republic of Iran cannot count much on its allies and friends," he said.
So the issue of preserving national unity should be treated as a high priority by Iranian media and officials at this juncture, but some of them have chosen a completely opposite path ahead of elections, he said, in reference to the February 2020 parliamentary elections.
"In recent days and weeks, and under conditions where Iran is standing against the entire world and is defending its nuclear and economic rights, the field of politics has become a scene of power struggle between different political groups," added Mazaheri, who is also a university professor and president of the Cultural Institute of the Economic Cooperation Organization.
Disappointing Messages
Each group is trying to present itself as a supporter of people and create the impression that other groups are "corrupt", he said, adding that these "negative" and "disappointing" messages are only worsening the already complicated situation facing Iran in terms of foreign policy.
"The constitution has clearly outlined the duties of parliament, the administration and the judiciary, and people expect them to fulfill their responsibilities. But today we are seeing that some officials have turned into critics of the existing situation and are pointing the finger of blame at others instead of carrying out their own responsibilities."
Mazaheri noted that this erodes public trust and makes people wonder whether officials are going to eventually prioritize national interests over their own.
"Officials and media outlets who support them should be aware that we are all in the same ship that is caught in a storm of foreign policy crises and which can reach its destination only with the help of the wisdom of those at the helm. The holes that different political groups are creating in the ship by their opponents threaten the fate of the boat and embolden enemies," Mazaheri said.
