Iran’s hardline Cayhan newspaper has proposed setting up a nationwide “soft war” headquarters to deal with what it calls “the enemy’s hybrid warfare.”
According to Kayhan’s proposal, the headquarters would consist of 19 representatives from major ministries and organizations such as the Ministry of Information, the Supreme National Security Council and national television.
The daily, which is run by hardline editor Hossein Shariatmadari, who stands in for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the mosque and Basij militia base were used to “strike back against regional and national actions and the enemy’s soft war.” It is also proposed that it be used as a coordinating center for ”
In November, Ayatollah Khamenei called the ongoing dissident uprising after Martha Amini’s death a “hybrid war” led by an “enemy.”
In his view, “enemies” include the United States, Israel, Europeans, regional nations, and Iranians who are not loyal to him.
Following Khamenei’s lead, Iranian officials began claiming that the nationwide protests were largely instigated by foreign enemies through social media.
Ali Fadavi, the second-highest commander in the Revolutionary Guards, also said in October that the country’s “enemies”, which for decades had focused on a “hard war” against the Islamic Republic, were now combined with soft power. He said he is taking a hybrid approach.
