Dr. Hassan Al-Barrari said recent statements from the Iranian Supreme Leader reveal a genuine fear of growing internal divisions within the country [1].
This assessment suggests that the Iranian leadership is prioritizing domestic cohesion over aggressive foreign policy to prevent the state from fragmenting under pressure [1].
Al-Barrari, a professor of International Relations at Qatar University, said that the leadership is reacting to a hybrid-war strategy specifically aimed at dividing the domestic front [1]. He said the Supreme Leader's remarks reflect an awareness of these vulnerabilities [1].
According to Al-Barrari, this internal instability has influenced Tehran's diplomatic approach toward the U.S. [1]. He said that Iran has deliberately delayed its response to a memorandum of understanding [1]. This delay is linked to the desire of former President Trump to avoid a full-scale war [1].
The professor also highlighted the role of U.S. internal politics in shaping these dynamics [1]. He said there is intense competition within the U.S. political system, and increasing democratic pressures to limit the military powers of the president [1]. These pressures have intensified amid criticism of policies regarding Israel [1].
Al-Barrari said that by stalling diplomatic responses, Tehran is attempting to manage its internal stability while navigating the unpredictable nature of U.S. leadership and military constraints [1].
“The Iranian Supreme Leader’s recent statements reveal a genuine fear within Iran’s leadership of growing internal divisions.”
The analysis suggests that Iran is currently operating from a position of perceived domestic weakness. By interpreting the Supreme Leader's rhetoric as a sign of fear, Al-Barrari posits that Tehran is using tactical diplomatic delays and hybrid-war countermeasures not as signs of strength, but as a means to prevent internal collapse while waiting for shifts in U.S. political willpower.
