As the bloody war in Gaza continues, it is crucial to address the broader perspective and recognise the role of the Iranian regime in the conflagration which started on 7 October. While several factors contribute to the turbulent situation, there is no denying that the Iranian regime stands as a primary impediment to peace and stability in the Middle East.
Oppressive brutality and Western appeasement
Allow me to provide you with some context. After the mullahs came to power in Iran, they were confronted with the task of addressing the populace’s demands, a responsibility they proved neither capable nor willing to fulfil. Consequently, they devised a strategy to maintain their grip on power, consisting of internal suppression and executions within Iran while simultaneously engaging in the exportation of terrorism and warfare beyond Iran’s borders. To this end, the Iranian regime has been supporting various proxy groups with money and weapons. This calculated approach, aimed at diverting attention and preserving their control, has endured for over four decades.
After the 22 September uprising in Iran, the mullahs were aware that another uprising was inevitable, given the collapsed economy, increasing poverty, executions, and intensified suppression, particularly through enforcing compulsory hijab on women. Last week, the regime executed 28 people in a few days and 74 people in one month. The number of announced executions since January this year is 620, including 23 women. To avert another uprising and prevent its downfall, the regime turned to exporting crises beyond its borders. The Western policy of appeasement towards Iran has facilitated this approach, enabling the regime to continue exporting terrorism for its own benefit.
Proxy warfare conducted by the Iranian regime
What the world witnessed on 7 October was, in part, a result of the Iranian regime’s actions. Once again, the regime successfully diverted attention away from internal conflicts between the people and the regime, transforming them into a broader dispute between Muslims and Jews, thereby extending its own existence.
The Wall Street Journal reported that on 2 October, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) gave the final order for the attack in a meeting in Beirut. On 3 October, regime supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened that “loss awaits” governments that play the “normalisation gamble” with Israel. Following the attack, the regime celebrated and staged demonstrations in Tehran in support of it. On 10 October, Khamenei said “We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime”. Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi and other top officials also made statements in support of the attack, although Tehran denies direct involvement.
Even though Iran had been instrumental in planning the attack, the West turned a blind eye to this. A few days ago, Khalid Meshaal, the head of the political office of Hamas, stated: “The October 7 attack on southern Israel was carefully planned with support from Iran and Hezbollah, who provided weapons and expertise. We are now seeking further support.”
Thirty years ago, while addressing the tens of thousands that make up the Iranian diaspora, in a speech at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London, Maryam Rajavi, the Iranian opposition leader, warned the world that Islamic fundamentalism was the new global threat. Unfortunately, at that time, the West did not pay attention. Twenty years ago, Rajavi emphasised that the dangers of the Iranian regime’s interference in the region far surpassed the risks associated with its nuclear programme. Yet again, the West turned a deaf ear. The result was the expansion of the mullahs’ extremism and proxy groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, etc. Even now, they refuse to listen and persist with their harmful policy of appeasing the regime.
The price of appeasement
The Iranian regime has taken advantage of the decades-long inaction of Western governments to expand its warmongering in the Middle East. The regime’s involvement in four wars in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon is a consequence of Western policy. The appeasement policy of the West towards Iran has, arguably, played a role in perpetuating the current events. By turning a blind eye to the regime’s actions, the West has inadvertently fueled violence and compromised regional stability.
The only path to peace and stability: regime change in Iran
Neutering the power of the mullahs would pave the way for a viable long-term solution for peace and stability in the Middle East and the establishment of a two-state solution. Simultaneously, it is crucial to offer full and comprehensive support to Mahmoud Abbas as the head of the Palestinian government and the Fatah organisation while addressing the legitimate demands of the Palestinian people.
Progressive steps toward regime change can be accomplished without direct involvement or deploying boots on the ground in Iran. Designating the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, freezing its assets, and undermining its operational capacity is imperative. The West must end four decades of appeasement policy and reactivate United Nations sanctions on Iran through the snapback mechanism. The IRGC bear significant responsibility for the internal suppression and execution of people within Iran and exporting terrorism beyond its borders.
Iran stands apart from Iraq, Syria, and other countries of the Arab Spring due to the presence of a powerful and organised resistance movement led by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK). The MEK’s resistance units are actively dismantling the atmosphere of terror all over Iran and laying the groundwork for the next uprising. Additionally, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a government in exile, is prepared to assume leadership. Rajavi, the president-elect of the NCRI for the transitional period and until a democratically elected government is in place, has outlined a comprehensive ten-point plan that serves as a roadmap for establishing a free and democratic Iran.
The West must rectify its counterproductive appeasing policy, stand on the side of the people of Iran and embrace their aspirations for regime change. This will empower the Iranian people to dismantle the warmongering and misogynistic regime in Tehran and bring lasting peace and stability to the region and the wider world.
