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Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

As Iran’s Hard-liners Tighten Their Grip, Ordinary Iranians Resort to Humor

Iranians Resort to Humor

One man showed up dressed as the blue Genie from “Aladdin” and declared his presidential candidacy. Another one, donning a face mask made from the Iranian flag, created massive chaos in the registration hall, then promised the bemused bureaucrats that he was running to “save Iran from the current chaos.”

Zarif’s Beefs

Zarif’s Beefs

Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif is, in a sense, more of a true believer than many in the Revolutionary Guard. He genuinely appears to be under the illusion that the ideals of the Islamic Republic still have popular support and that Iran should rely on them instead of brute force. Few in the IRGC seem to harbor such illusions.