Al-Monitor Discovers Iran Has Protests, Misses Century of Context
Al-Monitor breathlessly reports that security forces in Iran used 'tear gas and live fire' against protesters, with 'exiled opposition groups' urging more action. The piece links these protests to an 'economic crisis after years of sanctions and recovering from the June war against Israel.' What the mainstream outlet conveniently omits is the consistent, decades-long pattern of foreign
interference fueling internal dissent, often from 'exiled' groups with clear anti-regime agendas and foreign backing. The 'economic crisis' they mention isn't a natural phenomenon; it's the direct, intended consequence of U.S. and E.U. sanctions designed precisely to destabilize the country. The subtle yet crucial omission is the role of historical players in shaping this 'opposition.' One might
recall the 1953 CIA-orchestrated coup against Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, or the sustained financial and logistical support for various anti-regime factions since the 1979 revolution. The 'June war against Israel' is a telling phrase, implying an initiated conflict rather than the ongoing, often covert, resistance against imperialismfare and assassinations Iran
faces. (Perhaps Al-Monitor could also investigate the lobbying efforts in Washington that ensure these crippling sanctions remain in place, much like AIPAC's influence on U.S. policy towards Israel). When 'exiled opposition groups' urge protests, it raises questions about whose interests are truly being served, and who benefits from a destabilized Iran.