Iran Protests:

A Perfect Time to Know Friends and Enemies

Rasa - Just like US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed the anti-government protesters in Iran in a video posted on his Facebook page. He has denied accusations that Israel is behind the illegal demonstrations as well.

News ID: 435639

Date: 05 January 2018 - 23:59

RNA - Little wonder Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says enemies have been using various tools to deal blows to the Iranian nation and the Islamic establishment in the course of the latest developments in the country. In his words, “During the events of the past several days, Iran’s enemies, using the various tools at their disposal, including money, weapons, politics, and security apparatus, have allied [with one another] to create problems for the Islamic establishment.”

Likewise, President Hassan Rouhani has also blamed Iran’s arch enemies, the United States and Israel, for provoking the ongoing unrest. In his words, “Our success in the political arena against the United States and the Zionist regime was unbearable to (Iran’s enemies). Iran’s success in the region was unbearable to them. Don’t you expect that they would seek revenge? Don’t you think they would provoke some people?”

This is in no way an attempt to dismiss the legitimate demands of some protesters who want nothing but a better life for themselves and their beloved families. This is for a handful of those who are still under the illusion that the United States, the regime that used terror proxies to destroy Iraq and Syria on the pretext of freedom and democracy and bans Iranians from travelling to the United States, means well:

- It should come as no surprise to anyone that the economic protests have now become riots. Some of the protesters have raised the stakes with attacks of their own against police stations, banks and even religious centres, with reports of some posts and stations being set ablaze. So they are not on the streets for democracy; rather, they are there to destroy public and private property and undermine national security – something the United States and Israel have been desperate to see in Iran since the 1979 revolution.

- Those who have politicized the economic protests, and have even attempted to force their way into military facilities in the country, are in no way involved in peaceful demonstrations. These foreign-backed agents seek to take up arms and pave the way for presence of US-backed terrorist groups in the country. In other words, they seek to repeat the same American-Israeli regime-change scenarios that were once unfolded in Iraq and Syria.

- Hundreds have been reported arrested nationwide as the government tries to keep a lid on the protests, but is struggling to avoid making things worse. That's why a major part of the detainees have been released. A committee is working on the case of each detainees to release anyone who has played no major role in damaging public properties and armed attacks. The government has no intention to restore order quickly and forcefully, because this is a democracy in which people have the right to protest. However, that right will only be respected if it doesn’t turn into violence. Sadly, the latter has happened and the government has no other option but to react accordingly. After all, scores have been killed, including several policemen and the deadly skirmishes have to stop somewhere.

- This is a foreign plot, pure and simple. The protests are in no way representative and won’t be enduring. No doubt about it. However, that does in no way mean the government now has the right to double down on the crackdown. Some people have unmet rising expectations, such as high unemployment and rising costs, and the government needs to step back from some of its core economic policies. The government promised to fix the economy only after it could sign the nuclear deal with the West. But after that “historic deal” nothing happened as the US refused to lift the ongoing sanctions regime against Iran. This means, the protesters should direct part of their anger and discontent toward the United States – the same regime that claims to be sympathizing with them!

- Trump simply lacks any potential to bring a change to developments in Iran. The key thing that US politicians and policymakers need to keep in mind is that internal protests in Iran are not about Washington, and they are not an “opportunity” for them to exploit. With what it has done so far to the Iranian nation through its economic war and now media war, Washington is way off the line to presume that it can still attempt to insert itself into the situation or interfere as an honest “sympathizer.”

- The Trump regime has no credibility with even the pro-US Iranians. It cannot ban Iranians from the US at the start of the year, and then suddenly pretend that it respects them and supports their aspirations at the end. It’s also preposterous if the Trump regime concludes that the US needs to “make up” for Obama’s handling of the 2009 post-election protests. Obama did his best to make use of the situation, and used the unrests for justifying sanctions, but even he was in the know that no one can topple the Islamic establishment in Iran.

As the events unfold, it becomes slowly clear who Iran’s enemies and friends really are. The United States, the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia once again proved beyond any doubt that they are not Iran’s friends. Far from it, they live in a hostile world and only want to see self-destruction in Iran. Remember, those who vandalize public and private property and make life miserable for others, they are only fighting a losing battle with themselves. They may think they are practising benevolence and righteousness, but in effect they are only creating a kind of artificiality.

If the protesters honestly ask themselves which government, which establishment in their lives mean the most to them, they will find that it is those who, instead of instigating violence, have chosen rather to share their pain and touch their wounds with a warm and tender hand. These are difficult times and this particular region is a lonely and hostile place – just like the sea. It is best not to make enemies of those who are your true friends. You never know when your ships may cross.

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