Shabtabnews In this dark night, I have lost my way – Arise from a corner, oh you the star of guidance.
Iranwire – Media outlets aligned with the Iranian government have altered – whether unintentionally or on purpose – parts of a report published by the respected Austrian newspaper Der Standard about Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment as the third Leader of the Islamic Republic.
In the Der Standard report, it is written: “With Mojtaba Khamenei, the Islamic Republic stands up once again.”
Government-affiliated media published the Der Standard report under the headline “The Islamic Republic Rises Once More with Mojtaba Khamenei,” claiming that Donald Trump’s threats to eliminate Mojtaba Khamenei are not credible.
This appears to be a textbook case of “propaganda laundering.” Iranian authorities frequently comb through international media for references to their leadership, then recast those reports with a favorable spin to create the impression at home that even Western observers admire the regime’s “strength” or “resilience.” In this instance, the goal seems to be presenting the dynastic succession as a proud and triumphant national moment.
The Austrian author of the Der Standard report, however, used the verb “bäumt sich auf” in the headline to describe the “re-standing” of the Islamic Republic. In the German language, this expression is primarily used for animals like horses that rear up on their hind legs in a moment of rage or panic. Had the author intended to convey the regime’s authority in choosing a new leader, they could have used verbs such as “erhebt sich” (rises) or “zeigt Stärke” (shows strength) in the text and headline.
In German, this particular verb conveys the sense of “a final struggle” by an individual or a political system fighting to survive. It does not suggest authority, strength, or a triumphant return from battle.
