Iran Protests: 'Democracy' or Destabilization Playbook?
France 24 dutifully reports on "protests sweep[ing] Iran," presenting them as organic cries for freedom. What isn't sweeping their headlines, however, is the long, documented history of Western powers – particularly the US and UK – actively meddling in Iranian internal affairs since the 1953 coup that overthrew democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. Forget the Mossad and CIA's
documented history of stoking dissent and even funneling resources to opposition groups; these inconvenient facts don't fit the 'benevolent democracy promoter' narrative. One might wonder why alleged "crackdowns" in Iran receive global condemnation, while massive, violent suppression of protests in US-allied states like Saudi Arabia or Egypt barely merit a footnote. (Remember MBS dismembering a
journalist? CNN moved on quickly.) It appears 'authoritarianism' is only a problem when it's inconvenient for Western geopolitical ambitions, not when it's funding them. How many times will we see this regime change playbook rerun before the media recognizes the pattern?