Reports of another round of mass protest  in Iran are hardly surprising.  Iran has witnessed massive violence since the fall of the relatively modern Shah regime in 1979. According to estimates, the 1979 Islamic revolution claimed over 60,000 lives while its 1988 executions 30,000. The country has witnessed a series of upheavals in the post- 1979 landscape  — the student movement  of 1999-2000, the Green Movement of 2009-2010, the economic protests of 2017-2018, the fuel-price uprising of 2019, protests over the lack of water and bread in 2021, and the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement in 2022-2023 , to name a few . The current protest can be sees as yet another manifestation of the growing Iranian disenchantment with the its Islamist regime.

The current protest is attributable mainly to the growing inflation and the lack of democracy and civil liberties in the country. The Iranians today are said to be thinking the root cause of their predicament is the current Shiite government. They are demanding “Death to ( it) the dictator.”  US President Donald J Trump has done well to come out in support of the protestors in Iran today. He has warned the Iranian authorities against resorting to any violence means against the protesters in the country.

It is hoped Washington would keep its promise to the Iranian protesters against all odds. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed the Islamic state would  “not yield” in the matter and rather have the protestors “put in their place.” One would stress Washington must take measures aimed at liberating Iran from the clutches of its Islamist regime. The spirit of the historic Woodrow Wilson tradition demands the United States to lead the forces of democracy in Iran (and the world) today. Washington must not be naïve any more to expect that the Shiite government in Iran would ever change on its own and turn people-friendly.

One would suggest Washington to reach out to the Iranian masses at the earliest. Iran has the world’s largest natural gas reserves, fourth largest oil reserves, and a highly educated population. In order to liberate the Iranians from their oppressive Islamist regime, Washington could coordinate with Jerusalem and other democratic capitals in the world. During the 12-day war between Iran and Israel last year, the Washington did well to provide Jerusalem highly valuable military and political support.  It has of late green-signaled for launching a massive $1.5 billion military construction program in Israel. Such cooperation between Israel and the United States must grow further.

Needless to add, the democracies ought to bear in mind they have a common interest with Israel in combating the Iranian terror.  Shia Iran does not recognize Israel’s right to exist. It is hostile to the values of the entire civilized world.

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