Thread by @JasonMBrodsky

Three takeaways from Khamenei's #Nowruz message: (1) another year, another production slogan. This year he has selected: “Production: supports and removing barriers.” (2) he talks about how "sensitive and important" 1400 will be because of the elections... 1/4

saying that there will be "new managers" who "will be "energetic & who will have strong motivation." Important language as it is perhaps a veiled criticism of Rouhani administration & follows call for a "young & Hezbollah" gov. 2/4

reuters.com/article/uk-ira…

Given Khamenei's age, this next government could very well be his last, and that's why, in part, next election is "sensitive." (3) Khamenei exploits some U.S. officials' declarations that maximum pressure failed despite the core of U.S. sanctions remaining in place. 3/4

Yet he's notably still silent on U.S. proposal for an informal meeting after Rouhani complaints that a "small minority" is delaying the end of sanctions and amid a fierce internal debate on the path ahead. 4/4

english.khamenei.ir/news/8426/The-…