IRGC cleric urges wartime updates to public, citing Khamenei’s addresses

A senior cleric representing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that authorities should provide the public with updates on the country’s wartime situation, pointing to the practice of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who regularly addressed Iranians during periods of conflict.

Abdollah Haji Sadeghi, the leadership’s representative to the IRGC, said public communication was important to prevent adversaries from exploiting information gaps, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media.

“During the 12-day war, our martyred Imam would take the microphone, speak to the people and reassure them,” Haji Sadeghi said. “Of course, we are not saying that secrets should be revealed … but people should be given reports on the situation so the enemy cannot exploit it.”

His remarks come amid questions over the public profile of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. Since assuming the position, he has not appeared in public and no images, audio recordings or official speeches attributed to him have been released.

Haji Sadeghi also criticised the United States, saying Washington had repeatedly demonstrated that it could not be trusted. He warned that Iran would respond forcefully to any future threats.

“If necessary, our responses will be stronger and more astonishing,” he said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev