Iran’s Supreme Leader's Chief of Staff says the internet is a scourge, claiming that Ali Khamenei is the main target of people’s attacks. 

According to Iranian media on Friday, Gholamhossein Mohammadi Golpayegani said: “The virtual space has become a bane, but despite their [enemies'] relentless efforts and investments in promoting indecency and other vices, they have not succeeded in alienating people from their religion and beliefs", referring in regime terminology to the US and Israel. 

He mentioned large religious ceremonies – sponsored and organized by the regime with rent-a-crowd demonstrations – as proof of the enemies’ failure in their attempts to water down the nation's religious ideology. 

His remarks came amid a widespread disregard for religious laws in Iranian society. Despite threats and prosecution by the regime’s authorities, a growing number of Iranian women are appearing in public without mandatory hijab since protests began in mid-September following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody of hijab police. 

Touching upon the public's resentment towards Khamenei, Golpayegani claimed that the totalitarian ruler is under most attacks because he is “the main pole” that has kept the regime standing. 

Despite numerous attacks against the regime’s military inside the country and on its proxy forces across the region, he said the “enemies” do not dare to attack Iran. During the tirade, he also reiterated regime claims that the entirety of Israel in within the range of the regime missiles.