Don’t accept uncritically what we are being told about events unfolding in Iran.
Lens 1 – The Collective West narrative
Sources – Any Western mainstream media platform.
Context – Iran is an evil, corrupt and repressive country that sponsors terrorism and poses a self evident threat to the stability of the Near East, the global rules based order and the global economy.
The solution – Regime change that will allow the will of the people to install a government more amenable to the needs of the Collective West as it seeks to restore regional stability and peace and encourage the establishment of democracy and human rights within Iran itself.
The current unrest began with peaceful protests about the government’s mismanagement of the economy with inflation currently running at 30 – 40%. These protests grew, drawing in thousands and thousands Iranian citizens angry not just about the economy but also the lack of democratic freedoms and human rights under a theocratic dictatorship.
The regime responded by further curtailing individual freedoms by shutting down the internet in the country and unleashing the state forces of repression on the protestors, resulting in violent clashes, injuries, deaths and destruction of property.
Despite this level of intimidation the number of protestors against the regime has continued to grow and now poses a real threat to the continuance of the current regime.
In response the Collective West, led by the US, is considering military intervention in order to support the protestors and promote regime change.
Lens 2 – An alternative perspective
Sources – Numerous geopolitical analysts in the US, Europe and Iran and former diplomats from around the world.
Context – The Collective West poses an existential threat to Iran as it seeks to shore up its crumbling global hegemony in general and to maintain its beleaguered beach head in the Near East, Israel, in particular. Iran has been subject to the most crippling of western sanctions for decades which has grossly distorted its economy and has had to repulse numerous attempts to destabilise the country politically and a recent military attack from Israel and the US.
The solution – For Iran to continue to defend its sovereignty through the threat of military action and the development of closer ties with BRICS countries such as Russia and China.
The current unrest began with peaceful protests by merchants whose businesses were being hampered by the continuation of sanctions and the high level of inflation. These were allowed without any response from state forces. The immediate trigger for a worsening of conditions was a sudden depreciation of the Rial – the outcome of an international run on the currency – the result of a suspected external coordinated selling operation.
The initial protestors were joined by small numbers of activists with links to external organisations dedicated to the overthrow of the Iranian government and the state constitution (eg MOSSAD, CIA, MI6, ISIS etc). These activists promoted rioting, destroying property and perpetrating acts of violence against other protestors (think Maidan). Iranian State Police were forced to intervene, suffering a significant number of casualties.
The government responded to the escalating situation by shutting down the internet – to curtail the ability of the insurgent protestors to organise themselves to maintain their disruptive presence. This seems to have had the desired effect.
In response to the perceived threat to the Iranian constitution and government, hundreds of thousands of Iranians took to the streets and, despite the many criticisms directed towards those in charge of leading the country, did so in support of the same government and constitution.
Iran’s leaders have made it clear that any further military intervention by Israel or the Collective West will be met (and possibly pre-empted) by massive missile and drone attacks on Israel and US bases in the region.
— x —
As I finished this short post I rather belatedly noticed that my good friend Phil has recently posted three times on the unfolding events in Iran. All are well worth a read and signpost other sources. Here is the link to his latest:
Leave a Reply