Iran to Strengthen Ties with 'Axis of Tyranny' Amid President's Death

Former CIA station chief and Fox News contributor Dan Hoffman predicts Iran will continue its repressive policies and support for terrorist proxies while fortifying its alliance with Russia, China, and North Korea following President Ebrahim Raisi's death.

The untimely demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash has cast a shadow over the region's future. According to foreign policy expert Dan Hoffman, Iran is likely to maintain its current foreign policy trajectory, including domestic repression and support for Hamas, while intensifying its alliance with the "new axis of tyranny" comprising Russia, China, and North Korea.

Hoffman, a former CIA station chief and Fox News contributor, believes that despite Raisi's passing, the contours of Iranian foreign policy will remain largely the same, as dictated by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Despite being viewed as a potential successor to Khamenei, Raisi did not wield the same level of influence in shaping policy decisions.

"I fully expect that domestic repression, including of women, especially of women, will continue," Hoffman said. "Also, I think that a new president, when one is chosen, will fall in line with the supreme leader's wishes."

Following Raisi's death, Supreme Leader Khamenei appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as interim president. During his tenure, Raisi oversaw Iran's uranium enrichment at near-weapons-grade levels and authorized attacks against Israel, including a recent response to an alleged Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus.

Domestically, Raisi implemented a crackdown on dissenters following the suspicious death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody for allegedly not adhering to hijab regulations.

According to Hoffman, the Iranian people are growing increasingly discontented with the current state of their country, yearning for greater freedom and economic stability. "They know that their economy under Raisi suffered a freefall of their currency, in spite of the oil exports, and they don't want this life and they don't want their money being spent on overseas terrorist operations," Hoffman explained.

Iran has been a prominent actor in the ongoing Middle East conflict, providing financial and logistical support to proxy groups fighting against Israel. Hoffman believes that this support will continue unabated.

The implications of Raisi's death extend beyond Iran's borders, as it raises uncertainties about the future of the nuclear deal. Raisi, known for his hardline stance, was a key figure in the negotiations leading to the original 2015 agreement. His absence from the negotiation table may complicate efforts to revive the deal.

While the full extent of the impact of Raisi's death remains to be seen, it is clear that the geopolitical landscape of the region is in flux. Iran's alignment with the "axis of tyranny" and its continued support for terrorist proxies will likely exacerbate tensions with the international community, particularly the United States and its allies.