The Snapback Mechanism: The Outcome of the Battle of Siffin

TEHRAN (Iran News) The war had been going decisively in Imam Ali’s favor. The Iraqi forces had killed key Syrian commanders, and Muawiya’s army was on the verge of total collapse. Muawiya and his crafty commander Amr ibn al-As realized they would be militarily defeated. Therefore, they devised a political tactic to save themselves. At Amr ibn al-As’s command, the Syrian soldiers raised Qur’ans on their spears and shouted: “Let the Book of God judge between us!”

The real purpose of this act was to stop the war just as they were losing, not genuinely to submit to the Qur’an’s judgment. It was a highly effective psychological war tactic. Now the infiltrators had to take the next step. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) clearly recognized this deception. He warned his troops that it was a trick and that the enemy had no claim to religiosity. He insisted that the battle must continue until final victory was secured.

But here lay the main problem: a group within Imam’s army (led by Ash’ath ibn Qays and others), later known as the Qurra (reciters of the Qur’an), were deceived by this display. They pressured the Imam to submit to the “judgment of the Qur’an” and even threatened that if he refused, they would abandon him as they had abandoned Uthman (the third caliph), or even betray him. The pressure was so intense that Imam Ali (peace be upon him), despite his inner reluctance, in order to prevent internal rebellion and the fragmentation of his army, was forced to accept a ceasefire. Both sides agreed to appoint one arbitrator each, to judge between them based on the Qur’an (and not the Prophet’s Sunnah).

From Imam Ali (AS)’s side, Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (a moderate but simple-minded and unstable man) was chosen.

From Muawiya’s side, Amr ibn al-As (a shrewd and cunning politician) was chosen.

This very selection reflected the weakness of Imam’s camp; influential figures in the army did not accept decisive individuals like Malik al-Ashtar or even the Imam himself. “Snapback Mechanism”

After the war ended and the army returned to Kufa, some of those who had previously insisted on arbitration realized their mistake. They said: “Why did you appoint humans as judges when judgment belongs only to God?”

This group, initially called the Muhakkimah (supporters of the slogan “No judgment but God’s”), and later known as the Kharijites (rebels), not only rejected the arbitration but also declared Imam Ali (peace be upon him) guilty of “disbelief” for accepting it. They withdrew their allegiance from the Imam and became a serious internal threat, eventually forcing Imam to confront them at Nahrawan.

Acceptance of Articles 36 and 37 of the JCPOA, which contained the “snapback mechanism” (trigger mechanism), was undoubtedly imposed on the Iranian nation and leadership by today’s Ash’ath ibn Qays-like figures and infiltrators within the high-level decision-making structures of the Islamic Republic. Now, with its activation, the loyal defenders of the system are left helpless, and no wise path forward seems available.

The resolution, with near certainty, of the UN Security Council, gives the United States a pretext to bomb our oil facilities and to block our ability to sell oil and manage the system.

The result of appeasing infiltrators throughout the existence of the system has always brought heavy costs, and without confronting them, no path for resistance will remain.