Posts
 |
| Photo: Reuters |
IRAN AFFAIRS: What began as an economic grievance quickly snowballed into demands for change and an end to the Islamic regime that has held the country under its thumb for nearly 50 years.
'THEY LOVE Trump, they love America, but right now they feel abandoned, and it hurts.' Trump said he has no reason to strike, but protesters have been asking for US intervention and thousands of Iranian citizens have been killed since the protests began.
Over the past month, the people of Iran took to the streets to fight for their future. What started as an economic grievance turned fast into calls for revolution and the end of the Islamic regime that has crushed the country for nearly 50 years.
When President Trump promised to help the protesters, Iranians around the world felt real hope. Change seemed possible at last, but then he changed course, which left the people feeling abandoned and alone.
"They need the Americans. They depend on the Americans," Roni Insaz, an Iranian-born former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, told The Jerusalem Post. He said the US may be the Iranians' last hope for a better life.
Trump's reversal has the world watching with bated breath and we now see that anything could happen next. The president said he has no reason to strike as long as the regime stops executions, which it looks like haven't happened according to reports from within Iran. Protesters have begged for US intervention and Insaz asked, isn't that reason enough?
"There is enormous anger among the Iranian people currently toward Trump. He promised things, and now they feel he's backing away," Insaz said. "They love Trump, they love America – but right now they feel abandoned, and it hurts."
"It's very difficult for Iranian forces to kill Iranians, because they are the same people," he told the Post. In times of mass unrest, the IRGC brings in loyal militias from Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Those fighters have no problem shooting into crowds of Iranians. "They shoot at free people. You could say that the Iranian police or the revolutionary forces are not usually the ones who kill like this, and certainly not 35,000 or 40,000 people in two days. That's why they bring in special forces from outside to shoot and kill people," he said.
What sets this wave apart is the end of fear. Insaz said protesters no longer ask for small changes or policy tweaks. They demand the full dismantling of the system. This is a point of no return, and the regime knows it which is why it has unleashed unprecedented force. Executions and mass arrests serve as punishment and as a warning to stop others from joining. The regime's use of foreign militias and the mass killings became possible because of the digital blackout that started on January 8. Internet access has only started to return. Insaz said that terrifies the regime.
"They don’t care about people's lives, especially the outsiders; they don't care at all," he said. "But they are very afraid that what's happening will spread around the world and that people will see the murders."
When the IRGC cuts communications, it goes far beyond shutting down service. They confiscate phones, go door to door, and do whatever it takes to keep the truth hidden. Once the Internet is fully back, the world will see horrors not witnessed in many years. "I believe there is evidence of genocide in Iran, and I believe we will see it soon," he said.
‘Pahlavi Barmigardeh’
Even with Iran cut off from the world, one chant rings out across the diaspora: "Pahlavi Barmigardeh.' "Pahlavi will return." It echoes with "Javid Shah," "Long live the Shah." It calls for Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to return nearly half a century after his father's exile.
"Reza Pahlavi was a guest in my home," Insaz shared. "I had a long conversation with him about Iran, first in 2022 and again in 2024. He said very clearly that the uprising depends on American support, and that it will happen.
"If the Americans give it a boost, it will happen," Insaz said. He still believes a US strike on Iran could come soon.
Insaz stressed that his hope for US help and a free Iran comes from the voice of an entire people, and aside from the Greta Thunberg crowd, it appears to be a strong voice.
Despite decades of regime hostility, he rejects the idea of permanent enmity between Iranians and Americans or Israelis that he sees as regime propaganda, not reality.
"The Iranian people are good people, strong people," he said. Many feel real affinity toward Israel and the Jewish people. The old bonds from the Shah’s time could return.
“They love Israel, they love Jews, and they want peace,” he said. "We could do very good business together. In the past, during the time of the shah, there was cooperation, tourism, strong ties. It will happen again, God willing."
His hope rests on faith. "With God's help, Iran will enter a new state," he said. A future shaped by the people, not the Islamic rulers.
Without strong global pressure, the regime will see silence as approval. The violence will grow, and for those in the streets risking everything, foreign support is not just words, it's a lifeline.
If you enjoy Brain Flushings and would like to subscribe or Buy Me a Coffee, and check out the sponsors on this page, I would appreciate it, as it supports my work and my coffee drinking habit. No pressure and subscribing is free.
Born and raised in Iran, with family and friends still under the Islamic Republic, Insaz speaks for many. He calls on the world to stay engaged and alert. Refuse to accept repression through silence.
Until then, the most urgent demand is clear: Iran's future must not be forgotten. The voices seeking peace must be heard beyond its borders.
"The world must not be silent about what is happening in Iran. Do not stop thinking about Iran or its future. That’s what the Iranian people are asking for today," he concluded.
No comments:
Post a Comment