He would like to promote his mahdi army as a member of the so-called " axis of resistance " made up by hezbollah and hamas , both of which have made their names by confronting the united states and israel .
According to some critics , the president and those around him believe they do not need an intermediary to connect to the mahdi , the last imam of shia muslims .
Most controversially of all , although he is a layman , mr mashai has let it be known that he is in direct contact with the occulted twelfth shia imam , the mahdi , and that , by extension , the government in which he serves enjoys divine favour .