Cognition of Foreign Persian-Language Media Strategy, in Image Management of the Institution of Velayat-e Faqih

With the expansion of the global importance of the media in public diplomacy, some of the belligerent countries have attempted to set up Persian-language media. All media outlets have a strategic basis for media operations on its subjects. These strategies not only specifying the ultimate objective and the orientation of media but also considered as a road map to put the media in the path regarding its principal goal. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize the media operations strategies of these networks to deal with them. Velayat-e Faqih, as an indispensable institution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has always been under attack by the media campaign. This study focuses on Velayat-e Faqih institutions to identify and explain strategic peculiarities of the idea presented by this institution under Persian-speaking satellite networks. This research analyzes the content of topics related to Velayat-e Faqih institution in ten years (2008-2018) and eleven Persian-speaking media using the qualitative content analysis method. The results of this study revealed that the chief strategy of these networks tends to undermine the five significant principles of this institution including discrediting the true character of the Supreme Leader, the religious and intellectual foundations of this institution, the popular aspects of Velayat-e Faqih, legal support, and lastly the functioning aspect of Velayat-e Faqih institution. This invalidation convinced the public in a way that ultimately leads to the delegitimization of this institution and the necessity of its elimination. Indeed, the strategic goal of these media outlets is to manage the image of the Velayat-e Faqih institution, to delegitimize it, and pave the way for the abolition of this institution from the political structure of Iran.