Interim President Mohammad Mokbel spoke by phone with the leader of the terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) on Sunday and assured the group that Tehran would continue to support terrorists even after the sudden death of the late President Ebrahim Raisi.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s basic strategy of supporting the resistance fronts, especially the Palestinian resistance groups, will not change due to personnel changes,” Mokbel reportedly assured Ziad Al-Nahara, the Palestinian Resistance Front’s “secretary-general.”
Mokbel became interim president after a helicopter crash on May 19 killed Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian, and six others. The group was returning from a political event in Azerbaijan when the helicopter suddenly lost contact with the ground. Iranian officials initially reported that the helicopter had “landed hard” but “not too rough,” but confirmed on May 20 that it had crashed, killing all on board.
Iran’s Islamist regime has not given the public a clear explanation for the crash. A preliminary report released by the Iranian military on Thursday said investigators had found no evidence of sabotage, such as bullet holes or explosive remnants, but did not offer an alternative explanation for the crash.
This photo taken on May 20, 2024, shows the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed near Barzakan province, about 670 kilometers (420 miles) from Tehran, Iran, as footage from Iranian state-run IRIB TV shows. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and several members of his accompanying team, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian, were confirmed dead on Monday morning after the wreckage of the helicopter carrying them was found after it crashed near Barzakan province in bad weather on Sunday. (Shadati/Xinhua via Getty)
Mokbel will remain in office until June 28, the day “Supreme Leader” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is scheduled to rig elections to choose Raisi’s true successor. As of press time, Mokbel had not commented on whether he would seek to appear on the ballot.
Iranian state media Press TV On Sunday, it was reported that Mokbel had set aside time with the PIJ leadership to ensure that Iran would remain the world’s top sponsor of terrorism after the death of Raisi, known as the “Butcher of Tehran,” who built his career as a ruthless prosecutor responsible for the deaths of thousands of dissidents and an ardent supporter of the global jihadist movement.
“he [Mokhber] “President Raeishi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian, who lost his life in a helicopter crash last week, have serious concerns about support for the resistance,” Press TV reported, with “resistance” being a catch-all term for the many radical Islamist terrorist organisations that Iran funds in the Middle East, including PIJ, Hamas, Yemen’s Houthi organisation and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Mokbel appears to be prioritizing introducing himself to the leaders of Tehran’s various allies as a first step in retaining the presidency. On Saturday, the interim leader met He met with Iraqi President Abdullatif Rashid, who is visiting the Iranian capital for bilateral talks.
Like the PIJ leader, Mokbel reportedly told Rashid that Tehran had no intention of changing the policy “pursued by the late President Raisi towards the Iraqi government and people.”
In Iraq, Iran has long supported a former paramilitary organization known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of mostly Shiite groups that fought against the Sunni Islamic State “caliphate.” After the collapse of the “caliphate,” Iraq legally integrated the PMF into its national army but still struggles to control it. Since Hamas’ deadly October 7 attacks on Israel, defectors from the PMF are believed to be behind the “Islamic Resistance of Iraq,” a vague term for Iranian-affiliated jihadists attempting attacks on Israel.
Mokbel’s meetings and calls came after a major meeting last week that included representatives of at least six Iranian terrorist organizations. All of the terrorists were reportedly in Tehran for Raisi’s funeral and used the opportunity to attend a meeting with the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Quds Force, which specializes in foreign terror operations. The meeting was attended by representatives of Hamas (whose “political” leader Ismail Haniyeh was allowed to speak at one of Raisi’s funerals), as well as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PIJ), Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iraqi “resistance” groups, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
“The participants in the meeting stressed the need to continue the fight and struggle until the complete and final victory of the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip, with the participation of all resistance groups and fronts throughout the region,” the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported about the meeting.
Saudi Arabian news agency Al Arabiya Translated The report said the meeting also expressed the group’s determination to ensure the “continuation of jihad” against Israel.
Mokbel rose to power after a career specializing in financial management of various trusts linked to Khamenei, most recently as Eiko (“execution of Imam Khomeini’s orders”), also known as Setad. As first vice president appointed by Raisi, Mokbel was first in line to succession at the time of Raisi’s death on Sunday. Mokbel has not maintained a particularly active public presence, has not had any notable clashes with prominent figures in the administration, and has not attracted any particular acclaim.
Raisi’s sudden death has left the succession of the presidency and “supreme leader” positions unclear. Many observers of the Iranian regime believe that Khamenei, an octogenarian with suspected health problems, has begun preparing Raisi as his successor. Following Raisi’s death, there has been widespread speculation that Khamenei’s son Mojtaba could be the new “supreme leader,” and therefore a potential presidential candidate.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, takes part in a demonstration marking Jerusalem Day in Tehran on May 31, 2019. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty)
