Khamenei’s Nephew Urges Toppling Regime in Iran

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets a crowd of his supporters on January 9. Mahmoud Moradkhani in the framework (AFP/LinkedIn)
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets a crowd of his supporters on January 9. Mahmoud Moradkhani in the framework (AFP/LinkedIn)
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Khamenei’s Nephew Urges Toppling Regime in Iran

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets a crowd of his supporters on January 9. Mahmoud Moradkhani in the framework (AFP/LinkedIn)
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets a crowd of his supporters on January 9. Mahmoud Moradkhani in the framework (AFP/LinkedIn)

Mahmoud Moradkhani, the nephew of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, called for the “swift toppling of the regime in Iran,” but also criticized some opposition parties as “ineffective.”

During a press interview in Paris, which was attended by Asharq Al-Awsat, Moradkhani strongly criticized Khamenei, saying that he is “devoid of religious and civil legitimacy and is incompetent in religious sciences.”

Moradkhani did not hesitate to describe Khamenei as “the butcher of the people” and the “most despised” figure among Iranians.

Iran’s regime is established on religious and ideological beliefs, according to Moradkhani. This makes it very difficult for reform to prevail.

“There is no hope for reforming the regime from within. Therefore, there is no alternative to overthrowing it,” explained Moradkhani.

Moreover, Khamenei wants to make it clear to everyone that violence “is the source of the system.”

“Khamenei cannot take a single step back, so his plan is to resort to permanent repression,” clarified Moradkhani, adding that this has “left people with no alternative to defending themselves but resistance.”

In parallel with his criticism of the regime, Moradkhani described the Iranian opposition as “ineffective at home and on the ground.”

Moradkhani believed that the problem lies in the absence of a vision regarding “the stage that could follow the fall of the regime.”

The “Revolution” that Iran has known for four months now, according to Moradkhani, “did not produce figures with a clear program and distinct personalities.”

As for who would succeed Khamenei, Moradkhani believes that there is no replacement to the current leader from outside the circle close to him and surrounding him.

It is highly likely that the successor to Khamenei will be his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who “enjoys the support of the Revolutionary Guards,” revealed Moradkhani.

He emphasized that the Revolutionary Guards is an active and influential force in choosing Khamenei’s successor.

Moradkhani’s sister, Farideh Moradkhani, was recently arrested after she recorded a video describing the authorities led by her uncle as a “murderous and child-killing regime.”

Moradkhani’s mother and Khamenei’s sister, Badri Hosseini Khamenei, sent a letter in late December declaring that she had washed her hands of her brother, whom she described as a “tyrant.”



Trump Administration Cancels Travel for Refugees Already Cleared to Resettle in the US

 An Afghan refugee man, who asked not to use his name and not to show his face fearing his identity could lead to his capture, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP)
An Afghan refugee man, who asked not to use his name and not to show his face fearing his identity could lead to his capture, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP)
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Trump Administration Cancels Travel for Refugees Already Cleared to Resettle in the US

 An Afghan refugee man, who asked not to use his name and not to show his face fearing his identity could lead to his capture, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP)
An Afghan refugee man, who asked not to use his name and not to show his face fearing his identity could lead to his capture, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP)

Refugees who had been approved to travel to the United States before a deadline next week suspending America's refugee resettlement program have had their travel plans canceled by the Trump administration.

Thousands of refugees who fled war and persecution and had gone through a sometimes yearslong process to start new lives in America are now stranded at various locations worldwide. That includes more than 1,600 Afghans who assisted America's war effort, as well as relatives of active-duty US military personnel.

President Donald Trump paused the refugee resettlement program this week as part of a series of executive orders cracking down on immigration. His move had left open the possibility that refugees who had been screened to come to the US and had flights booked before the Jan. 27 deadline might be able to get in under the wire.

But in an email dated Tuesday and reviewed by The Associated Press, the US agency overseeing refugee processing and arrivals told staff and stakeholders that "refugee arrivals to the United States have been suspended until further notice."

There are a little more than 10,000 refugees from around the world who had already gone through the lengthy refugee admission process and had travel scheduled over the next few weeks, according to a document obtained by the AP. It was not immediately clear how many of those had been set to arrive by upcoming deadline.

Among those are more than 1,600 Afghans cleared to come to the US as part of the program that the Biden administration set up after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Many veterans of America's longest war have tried for years to help Afghans they worked with, in addition to their families, find refuge in the US. Many were prepared for a suspension of the resettlement program but had hoped for special consideration for the Afghans.

"The Trump administration’s early pause of refugee flights is alarming, leaving thousands of Afghan allies in fear and uncertainty," said Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran and head of #AfghanEvac, a coalition supporting Afghan resettlement efforts. "We are ready to partner to fix this and urge clear communication with impacted families. Let’s honor our promises and uphold America’s values."

There is a separate path — the special immigrant visa program— specifically for Afghans who worked directly with the US government. VanDiver's group said that program, set up by Congress, did not appear to be affected at this time.

Trump's order signed Monday had given the State Department a week before it began to halt all processing and traveling. It appears the timing was moved up, though it was not immediately clear what prompted the change.

The State Department referred questions to the White House.

Agencies that help refugees settle and adjust to life in America have argued that this is the type of legal immigration that Trump and his supporters say they like and have pointed to the stringent background checks and sometimes yearslong wait that refugees endure before setting foot in America.

"This abrupt halt to refugee admissions is devastating for families who have already endured unimaginable hardship and waited years for the chance to rebuild their lives in safety," Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, head of Global Refuge, one of the 10 US resettlement agencies, said in a statement Wednesday.

"Refugees go through one of the most rigorous vetting processes in the world, and many are now seeing their travel canceled just days, or even hours, before they were set to begin their new lives in the United States," she said. "It’s utterly heartbreaking."

Refugees are distinct from people who come directly to the US-Mexico border with the goal of eventually seeking asylum. Refugees must be living outside of the US to be considered for resettlement and are usually referred to the State Department by the United Nations.

While the resettlement program has historically enjoyed bipartisan support, the first Trump administration also temporarily halted resettlement and then lowered the number of refugees who could enter the country annually.