If you like crackpot conspiracy theories or you’re interested in what the Iranian government wants you to believe, then pay a visit to Press TV!
Iran’s western-focused propaganda outlet, Press TV was inspired by Russia’s RT. But early Tuesday afternoon U.S. coast east time, Press TV’s webpage had a particularly representative selection of headline stories. Each story told us something interesting about Iranian government concerns and what Iran wants us to believe. I took a screenshot of the webpage and inserted a number code for each story.
Story 1 concerns the latest rant from God-king Geriatric, also known as Ayatollah Khamenei.
Here, Press TV references one of the God-king’s more frequent tropes: His claim that ISIS is an American creation acting under U.S. direction to murder innocent civilians. In this case, the God-king claims that the U.S. has redeployed ISIS out of Syria and Iraq and into Afghanistan.
It might be ludicrous, but it’s also representative of Khamenei’s desperate need to distract attention away from his own difficulties. And of these, Khamenei has a few.
First off, he’s almost certainly dying of cancer and needs to cement a legacy of having sustained and expanded the revolution. Second, Khamenei faces an impossible-to-resolve existential crisis as his regime grapples with a young population demanding access to modernity. Third, he faces a Trump administration determined to contest Iranian expansionism in the Middle East.
Story 2 is the most serious and is at least somewhat credible.
Press TV alleges that Houthi forces in Yemen successfully fired a missile at Saudi Arabia’s international airport in Riyadh on Tuesday. But let’s be clear, assuming the missile attack did indeed take place, Iran is culpable here. We know this because only Iran retains the expertise, missile capabilities and strategic authority to conduct such an aggressive strike.
Still, the strategic ramifications of this attack would be significant in representing yet another Iranian attempt to test Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At some point, the Saudi king-in-waiting is likely to strike back. And if that happens, escalation towards war is a distinct possibility.
Iran wants us to read this story and fear its power.
Story 3 involves a purportedly majestic display of Iranian naval power.
In reality, however, two destroyers and a logistics vessel will float around while their crews attempt to ensure they do not break down. The simple truth here is that while Iranian naval forces could challenge to U.S. Navy vessels or international tankers via swarm attacks, Iran cannot project naval power across the Oceans. This deployment is about propaganda, and of course about trying to upset Saudi Arabia.
Story 4 is a rather sad Iranian attempt at humor. Referencing Javad Zarif’s latest bout of Twitter trolling (the good minister’s favorite pastime when he’s not screaming at John Kerry), the article throws scorn on U.S. and British allegations of Iran’s provision of ballistic missiles to the Houthi rebels.
Of course, the Iranians are only trolling because they know they’ve been caught red-handed.
Anyway, for all its absurdities, Press TV is worth checking from time to time. If nothing else, it lets you know what the Iranians want you to think.
