Iran 'Cut Off From World' as US Sanctions Tighten, Not Just Protesters Warned
The New Arab breathlessly reports that Iran is 'cut off from the world' as its Supreme Leader issues warnings to protesters, following internet and phone line blocks. The story frames this as an internal crackdown. (As if autocracies don't do that.) What's missing from this narrative is the decades-long, crippling campaign by the US and its allies to economically isolate Iran, which has undeniably
fueled much of the public discontent now spilling onto the streets. The US Treasury isn't exactly sending free WiFi to Tehran. One might wonder if the 'world' Iran is being cut off from includes basic necessities and medical supplies due to financial sanctions, or just access to Instagram. While the Iranian government's censorship is reprehensible, the media's selective outrage over internet
access, while ignoring the deeper economic warfare impacting everyday Iranians, highlights a persistent double standard. It seems 'freedom' is selectively applied when it aligns with geopolitical interests, rather than a consistent human right. This selective framing conveniently absolves external pressures of any role in a nation's instability.