www.newsbreak.com Open in urlscan Pro
35.81.121.53  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Open in App
|
Sign in
LocalU.S.PoliticsCrimeSportsLifestyleEducationReal EstateNewsletter
The Hill


OPINION: THE MIDDLE EAST IS ROILING — THE DEATH OF IRAN’S PRESIDENT COULD PUSH
IT OVER THE EDGE

By Tara D. Sonenshine, opinion contributor,

4 hours ago

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi went down on Sunday along
the province of Western Azerbaijan, in a mountainous region in the northwest of
Iran. Raisi had made a trip that day to inaugurate a dam on the Aras
River. Traveling with the president were Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein
Amir-Abdollahian, the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province and other
officials and bodyguards. None of the passengers survived the crash .



Although in Iran, the president does not have as much power as the supreme
leader, Raisi’s death comes at a sensitive time in Iran’s domestic situation and
the Middle East region overall. Everyone is on edge right now in Rafah ; Iranian
proxies in Lebanon are engaged in border skirmishes with Israel in the north;
and Houthi rebels are still attacking ships in the Mediterranean.

The world does not need more disquiet right now — it would be a mistake not to
take this moment in Iran seriously.

Senior American and Iranian officials reportedly held talks through
intermediaries in Oman last week to discuss the ongoing conflict and how Iran
might rein in its proxies. Since the taking of American hostages in 1979, Iran
has had no formal relations with the U.S., but talks often take place in
third-party countries.



Also under discussion in Oman was Iran’s nuclear situation . The world is
rightly worried that Iran has the technical ability to develop nuclear weapons,
but whether the leadership has decided to build the bomb is still unclear. The
International Atomic Energy Agency has been attempting to get clarity, but
getting access to Iran’s nuclear facilities is often an obstacle, leaving
experts to guess.

With a presidential election coming in the United States, how America deals with
Iran is important. President Trump decided to withdraw from the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, and since then Iran’s nuclear
program has advanced, largely in secret. How Iran proceeds is a vital question.
We need to find a way back to diplomacy with Iran over its nuclear future.

Raisi was considered a possible successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as supreme
leader. Iranian law stipulates that if the president dies, power is transferred
to the first vice president and an election must be called within six months.
The first vice president is Mohammad Mokhber , a conservative politician who has
been blamed in the past for Iran’s economic woes.



Mokhber will likely be as conservative as Raisi, if not more. President Raisi
was an obstacle to legitimate protest in Iran, using crackdowns on dissent as a
major tool to control women and girls.

Protests have been growing over the rights of women to shed their headscarves.

The regime has grown more forceful against citizens — arresting and detaining
celebrities , sports figures and ordinary people, and imposing stiff penalties
for speaking out. More executions are taking place in Iran than in earlier
periods; Iran hanged at least seven people Saturday, including two women.

What comes next in this country of almost 90 million could impact everything
from war in the Middle East to the price of oil. Iran has been supplying drones
and arms to Russia for use in its war with Ukraine. Much of what America wants
to achieve in the world is threatened today by Iran’s behavior.



Raisi’s death may not be monumental; but we ignore it at our peril.

Tara D. Sonenshine is former U.S. undersecretary of state for public diplomacy
and public affairs and is currently a senior fellow at the Fletcher School of
Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

227+

Comments / 250
Add a Comment
Jake
2h ago
We should freeze their money in foreign Banks, Sell OUR OIL for less, and let
the world know that if you do business with Iran you can't do any business with
the United States of America. for starters. Biden screwed up Big Time when he
removed all the sanctions that was already in place.
Reply(28)

89

young mommy02 NC pony 37
2h ago
he isnt even the dude in charge. they have a supreme leader who is the head of
everything. the president is #2 to him so it doesn't mak3 much of a difference.
Reply(2)

23

View all comments
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Most Popular
Melania Trump's 'Bizarre' Outfit For Son's Graduation Goes Viral

Palm Beach, FL1 day ago

Close
This site uses various technologies, including third-party cookies, pixels, and
codes, to personalize our...more
Accept CookiesReject Cookies

Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most
of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as
from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to
our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through
short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and
our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We
strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse
through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the
news narrative together.




COMMENTS / 0

Close
Community Policy

About NewsBreak
About UsCareersHelp CenterContact
Quick Links
Arizona NewsCalifornia NewsFlorida NewsFind My City
Partner With Us
PublishersAdvertisersContributors
Follow Us


©2024 NewsBreak. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyDon’t Sell My Info
Community Standards
About NewsBreak
About UsCareersHelp CenterContact
Quick Links
Arizona NewsCalifornia NewsFlorida NewsFind My City
Partner With Us
PublishersAdvertisersContributors
Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyDon’t Sell My InfoCommunity Standards
Follow Us


©2024 NewsBreak. All Rights Reserved.