The Revolution's Recurring Refrain
Deutsche Welle's recent piece on Iran's Islamic Revolution anniversary, while acknowledging 'internal and external strains,' curiousy avoids connecting those strains to their primary benefactors. Let's peel back the layers. THE ACTORS: Who benefits from the 'under pressure' narrative? The primary beneficiaries are the hardline conservative factions within the Iranian government, particularly those
linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Supreme Leader's office. President Masoud Pezeshkian, for instance, a former Judiciary Chief known for his involvement in the 1988 mass executions of political prisoners (Amnesty International, 2018), gains significant political capital by projecting an image of steadfastness against foreign adversaries. This year's anniversary speech,
predictably, focused on 'resistance' against 'enemies,' a well-worn playbook. THE FUNDING: Where does their money come from, and where does it go? While the state-controlled media emphasizes the burden of sanctions, the IRGC, in particular, operates a vast economic empire, estimated to control between 20-40% of the Iranian economy (Council on Foreign Relations, 2019). This includes stakes in
everything from oil, gas, and petrochemicals to construction, telecommunications, and banking. These entities thrive not despite sanctions, but often because of them, leveraging black markets and shadow networks, enriching a select few while ordinary citizens bear the brunt of economic hardship. The annual budget allocation for entities like the Basij Resistance Force, a paramilitary organization,