Iran's Revolutionary Guard: Khamenei relies on salami tactics

Hossein Salami is a man of words. According to Iranian media, he can not just recite the Koran by heart. In the past few years he has appeared primarily as a hate-speech and hounder. "We plan to break America, Israel and their partners and allies, and our ground forces should rid the planet of its filth," Salami said in a February speech broadcast by Iranian television.

Since the weekend, the 59-year-old occupies one of the most important posts in the Iranian power apparatus: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Salami commander of the Revolutionary Guard. The paramilitary organization, Persian: Pasdaran, forms the backbone of the security apparatus and the Iranian economy. Their most important task is, if necessary, militarily to combat domestic political opponents of the regime.

In addition, the Pasdaran also focused on their activities abroad: they were instrumental in the founding of the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon in the eighties, supported after 2003 Shiite militias in Iraq in their guerrilla war against the US Army and since 2011 the main military support of the Assad regime in suppressing the insurgency in Syria. In addition, instructors of the Pasdaran since 2014 have made an important contribution to the destruction of the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS) in Iraq.

A change of course of the Revolutionary Guards is not expected

In early April, US President Donald Trump called the Revolutionary Guards "the Iranian government's main tool to direct and implement their worldwide terrorist campaign" - and put the Pasdaran on the terror list. It is the first time that the United States classifies a military unit of another state as a terrorist organization.

Two weeks later, Khamenei replaced the commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guards. He put the former commander Mohammad Ali Jafari after twelve years in office and appointed his former deputy salami as his successor. Khamenei did not comment on the reasons.

IRGC Brigadier General Hussain Salami, IRGC, I give you as the commander-in-chief of the IRGC, granting you the rank of Major General.

Salamis Kür shows, however, that with a change of course of the Revolutionary Guard is not expected. He has repeatedly made it clear that from the point of view of Tehran, the presence of the Pasdaran abroad is vital to protect the security interests of the regime. As he said in 2016, in a speech to Revolutionary Guards, his troops had "crossed the borders of this country." And further: "Our fate is now linked to the fate of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, Yemen, Pakistan and Afghanistan."

Salami drove the rocket program forward

In addition, Salami's appointment is a strong indication that the Revolutionary Guards will continue their drone and missile program. From 2005 to 2009 he commanded the Pasdaran Air Force. Thus, the missile program fell within his area of ​​responsibility. Under his leadership, the development of rockets accelerated - among other things, Iran tested by 2009, several medium-range missiles, with which the Islamic Republic could attack Israel.

Tehran's missile program is receiving criticism not only in the US but also in the EU. Iran's regime emphasizes that it violates neither the nuclear agreement nor UN Resolution 2231, which was unanimously adopted in July 2015 in the context of the nuclear deal. It states: "Iran is required not to engage in activities related to ballistic missiles designed to use nuclear weapons, including launches using technology for such ballistic missiles."

Iran claims that this is not a strict ban on missile testing and also denies that the missiles tested could even be equipped with an atomic warhead.

Even liberal forces flock around the Pasdaran

Salami categorically rejects any negotiations to end rocket development. "Nobody has the right to negotiate with us, to recommend something to us or to demand something from us," he said on Iranian television in February.

The influence of the Pasdaran within the Iranian power apparatus is likely to increase under his leadership - which, however, is less his merit than a consequence of Trump's sanctions policy. Reacting to the classification of the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization, even liberal media and politicians have been behind the Pasdaran in recent weeks. The blatant effort of the US to overthrow the regime in Tehran also provides them with a pretext. As a "shield of the system" they were able to expand their access to the economy, media and other areas of the state.