Why isn’t Majtaba Khamenei’s order of “social cohesion” taken seriously?

Reza Haji-Hosseini — Majtaba Khamenei, in his message for the Government Week, announced: “Any act that is detrimental to social cohesion is prohibited.” But in a government in which every faction sees its survival in accusing the other, the order of cohesion is quickly violated—especially when the absent leader cannot immediately impose a cost for disobeying his command.

Implementing such an order requires a ruler who raises the cost of defiance. Ali Khamenei, the murdered dictator of Iran, stood at the center of the power structure for more than three decades and appointed senior military, judicial, and media officials. However, even his influence did not stop the infighting or bring it to an end.

On June 4, 2024, he asked presidential election candidates to avoid “slander, accusations, and mudslinging,” but factional attacks continued.

Now Majtaba has taken over the same structure without his father’s background and political capital. Since his election, no image or voice has been released that would show his new presence in the position of leader.

(Read the full text of this note here)