Mashregh News, a prominent outlet closely associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, published a special column critiquing a recent article from reformist Ham-Mihan daily. The commentary appeared to serve two main purposes: first, to inform IRGC supporters about the thought processes of their political opponents, and second, to intimidate reformist media. Remarkably, Mashregh News is not only attacking Ham-Mihan for what it published but also what the columnists themselves may have thought but did not put on paper fearing censorship. In doing so, Mashregh News inadvertently revealed the dominant thinking in reformist circles, which is not openly expressed in Iran’s state-censored media. 

• October 14: Under the headline “Behind the Curtains of the Radical Pressure for Signing Camp David Accord II: A Dangerous Idea Aiming to Create an Iranian Anwar Sadat!” Mashregh News attacked Ham-Mihan daily, not only for what the reformist daily had published but for what its editors and columnists may have thought: 
  • “Ham-Mihan daily calls for unity and cohesion at times of Israeli threats against Iran, which is commendable … However, unity and cohesion must be based on national security. The reformist media outlet must explain why it has recently highlighted the military strength of the enemy while downplaying Iran’s capabilities. It should also explain why it has repeatedly called for negotiations with the United States regarding the Zionist regime. Its fearmongering undermines its supposed goal of fostering national unity and social cohesion.” 
  • “While calling for internal unity, reformists also blame the policies of the Islamic Republic for the current regional situation rather than pointing to the proven hostilities of the United States and Zionist regime. Such defeatist claims have led to their strategic isolation.” 
  • “The dominant discourse among Westernizers is that resistance to the Zionist regime, and Tehran’s refusal to adopt the peace-loving policies of the United States, is the main cause of the current crisis. In their view, if there is a problem, we are the source of it, and the solution is to abandon the defense of the oppressed Palestinian people. These Westernizers only seek the destruction of the resistance and the dominance of Tel Aviv in the region.”