While negotiations between Iran and the United States remain deadlocked, the Islamic Republic seeks to maintain a climate of warlike mobilization among the population, by increasing military formations in the streets and on television, as well as heavily staged wedding ceremonies. militarized.
While a fragile ceasefire came into force on April 8, American President Donald Trump has threatened in recent days to attack Iran again if negotiations fail. It is in this context of increased tensions that the Islamic Republic organized military training workshops and introductory courses in the handling of small arms in several large squares in the capital. Similar training courses were widely broadcast on state television.
In the moderate press or in exile, these scenes are the subject of strong criticism. The carrying of weapons by several presenters during programs broadcast by state television “provoked a wave of indignation†, reports the media BBC Persian, hostile to the regime. A presenter caused an outcry by pulling, during a broadcast, on an Emirati flag which was displayed on the screen of a television placed in the studio.
Sow fear
On social networks, Internet users attributed these scenes to the probable resumption of hostilities between Iran and the United States. Others saw it as an attempt to sow fear among the population and a way of preventing the outbreak of demonstrations against the regime, particularly in the event of a ground offensive.
“At a time when the country is in dire need of solidarity and composure, staging paramilitary demonstrations on television can only further erode the morale of society… a dénoncé le média réformateur Asr-e Iran.
Based in Tehran, the site has openly criticized state television, accusing it of exacerbating the general level of anxiety in the country. “The shooting of the flag of a neighboring country further shocked public opinion and shows that television has become a refuge for radicals… a encore tancé Asr-e Iran.
Le média modéré Khabar Online a de son côté accusé the television of “compromise what remains of his credibility†by providing weapons to its presenters. “In times of crisis, the media are expected to demonstrate more professionalism and help ease tensions†, but television “chose to provoke controversy by broadcasting images worthy of a barracks†, a déploré le média également installé à Téhéran.
“The most warlike marriages in historyâ€
In another gesture with strong symbolic significance intended to display its resilience, the government also organized with great fanfare, in the streets and squares of Tehran, wedding ceremonies for couples ready to sacrifice their lives. According to the local press, the newlyweds joined the so-called “self-sacrifice” program (jaffa, in Persian), by which they undertake to risk their lives during this war, in particular by participating in human chains around the power plants targeted by Israel and the United States.
Images broadcast by state media, including the newspaper Javan, close to the Revolutionary Guards, show women in wedding dresses aboard military vehicles armed with machine guns. These demonstrations took place after the supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, called on the population not to postpone weddings and other celebrations due to the death of his father, Ali Khamenei.
“We want to say that we are not afraid of war or threats, and that life continues as usual… said one of the bride and groom. Close to Iranian worker circles, the siteWe have been released a video describing these ceremonies as “the most warlike marriages in historyâ€.
Since the start of the war at the end of February, the Islamic Republic has mobilized its supporters every evening in the streets in a show of force intended both for the opponents present in the country and for the American and Israeli enemies.
