I fully agree with you on your comment regarding the undisputed power of IRGC in all affairs concerning Iran. What we saw with the "supposed to be" reformist government is that the people want a change. Even little when a reformist takes such an important position like the one that Zarif took, he has the power of influencing some of the affairs and exploit the hot topics in favor of the reformist supporter part of Iran because these statesmen report to the Iranian Nation and we saw that the nation is not happy trough all the protests and tension we got in the last couple of years. Zarif with his resignation showed a white flag and the reputation of the reformist block is damaged. We are yet to see how all these events will influence the internal political situation in Iran and its dynamics, because I am sure that the people will start ask questions very soon after the cabinet starts working in a normal tempo.
When it comes to the situation around the Al-Aqsa mosque I also have sensitivity towards this topic as a Muslim. I think the boundaries within which Turkiye is working on a solution are the most balanced ones. We are talking about resolutions 242, 338, 1397 and 1515, Jerusalem Corpus Separatum per resolution 181 (1947).
Why is this conflict in this specific time a problem? Because nobody is ready for the consequences of the change of the status quo. As we can see after the 7th October, Israel is determined to finish this job and is war mongering, trusting in the support they get internationally (mainly the US). I think it was more logical to make everything possible to postpone the escalation until Turkiye is economically and militarily ready for the changes. All of the developments in the region were moving in a tempo that Turkiye managed to catch up to and the intensity of the conflicts were low which means more time to react and adapt our posture. Sudden escalation will catch us unprepared, with our pants down. While we don't have the ultimate power to control events we still have and can have serious influence concerning all the developments in the region. Turkiye is in a process of healing economically and in parallel with this, Turkiye is also increasing its military and intelligence capacity, also adding more capabilities in terms of technical means and quality of work in result of updated education, training and tactical concepts.
We know that the region is in a crash course, but it would've been a good thing to be able to control the timing of all this so we have the capacity and capability to protect our current advances, fill all the power vacuums that will form, which will establish the base for a positive Turkish influence, balanced actions, deterrence and posturing which will be based on the interests of the nations of this region, creating and promoting stability, trade and prosperity. I know Turkiye has the potential to play this leadership role, but first we must build deterrence. I am afraid that we will not only be unable to protect our current advancement, but we may also lose more while Iran or the US (whoever goes on top) becomes a dominant power which is not good in both of the cases as we currently see.
I am very sorry for all these kids and innocent people that wait for us while we can't be there for them as much and as strong as I've wanted to, not only in Palestine, but all around in our backyards. I not only feel guilt as a Turk and a Muslim for that we allowed this to happen (all of it), but also feel shame as a human being that the whole humanity just stays and watches. Are we dumb, disabled or dysfunctional? I don't think so. I think the reason lies in accepting mediocrity as long as our community is concerned and the fact that human massacres are normalized in a global sense. We need more holism.