Latest news with #Elaph
Memri
2 days ago
- Politics
- Memri
Jordanian MP Expresses Support For Iranian Opposition, Criticizes West For Letting Iranian Regime Oppress Its Own People
In an article published June 24, 2025 on the Saudi website Elaph, titled 'The Iranian People's Struggle for Freedom and Justice,' Jordanian MP Isma'il Al-Mashaqbeh voiced support for the Iranian people's struggle for democracy and against the oppression of the Iranian regime. Al-Mashaqbeh also criticized the West, accusing it of supporting and appeasing the Iranian regime and of curbing the people's resistance against it in order to ensure the regime's survival. It is this appeasement, he argued, that has enabled the Iranian regime to suppress its people and threaten regional stability. To support his claims, he cited statements by Maryam Rajavi, head of the Iranian opposition group National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI),[1] who underscored the Iranian people's aspirations and the vital need for regime change in the country. This is not the first time a Jordanian politician has expressed support for the Iranian opposition. In June 2024, amid Iranian regime efforts to destabilize Jordan and the region at large,[2] Jordanian MP Aisha Al-Hasanat published an article on the Elaph website in which she called for supporting opposition groups in Iran to help them bring down the regime.[3] A few months prior to that, Jordanian diplomat and politician Bassam Al-Amoush – formerly Jordan's ambassador to Iran and minister of parliamentary affairs and administrative development – published an article on the Jordanian website Ammon News in which he criticized Iran's subversive activities in the region, particularly in Jordan. He called on the Jordanian government to establish ties with Iran's ethnic minorities and opposition groups, such as Mojahedin Khalq, in order to pressure the Iranian regime.[4] It should be noted that the Saudi website Elaph is a major platform for articles supporting the Iranian opposition, especially the NCRI, headed by Maryam Rajavi.[5] Isma'il Al-Mashaqbeh (Image: The following are translated excerpts from Al-Mashaqbeh's article.[6] "The Iranian people have suffered for decades under the yoke of tyrannical regimes, first the dictatorship of the Pahlavi dynasty [1925–1979], which was imposed [on Iran] by the West to protect its own interests, and later the mullah regime, which persists [to this day] with similar Western backing. These regimes, which ignored the will of the Iranian people, sparked popular discontent [within Iran] and caused the peoples of the region to feel aversion to a policy that is devoid of wisdom and justice and disregards human values. "Today, the Iranian people persists in its struggle for freedom and democracy, refuses to submit to oppression, and insists on its right to self-determination. This aspiration is manifested in the Iranian people's ongoing uprisings against the mullah regime with the aim of overthrowing it and establishing a democratic national regime that guarantees peace and a dignified existence. "In her June 18, 2025 speech in Strasbourg before the European Parliament, NCRI President Maryam Rajavi presented a clear vision for Iran's future, emphasizing that 'Iran is on the brink of historic change'… and noting that the Iranian people 'is now more committed to change than ever before.' Addressing demonstrators in Berlin and Stockholm, Rajavi stressed that 'our message is clear: the resistance of the Iranian people must be recognized as a liberating force. We say no to negotiations and to leaving the mullah regime [in place], and no to war. [There is] a third option: change led by the Iranian people and its resistance.' She added that 'the prerequisite for peace and security in the region is regime change [in Iran]...' "The Iranian resistance, led by Maryam Rajavi, aspires to establish a democratic republic anchored in the separation of religion and state, gender equality, respect for the rights of ethnic groups and minorities, an independent judiciary, the abolition of the death penalty, and political pluralism. This [vision] also includes a commitment to keeping Iran free of nuclear weapons. Rajavi stressed: 'No one can stop the change and the revolution. The Iranian people's democratic revolution will prevail'… "On the ground, the resistance units have carried out more than 3,000 protest actions over the past year, while the number of executions [carried out by the Iranian regime] since August 2024 exceeds 1,350, which is the highest rate in the world... "The mullah regime has drawn its strength from the support of the West, which not only adopted a conciliatory approach toward it but actively curbed the Iranian resistance in order to ensure this regime's continued survival. This support enabled the regime to suppress the Iranian people and to threaten regional stability. Referring to the war that broke out in the region on June 13, 2025, Rajavi said: 'It is the policy of appeasement that imposed the war. The real solution is regime change by the people and the organized resistance.' She called on the international community to recognize the resistance, comparing its struggle to the Europeans' fight against religious fascism."
Memri
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Saudi News Portal Posts Articles By Iranian Oppositionists Calling To Topple The Iranian Regime
In the recent months, the Saudi news portal Elaph posted many articles by Iranian opposition figures in exile that slammed the Iranian regime. The writers, some of them members of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI),[1] decried this regime's oppression of and violence against the Iranian people, its pursuit of nuclear weapons, its support for terrorism and its actions to destabilize the region. They also criticized the international community's impotence in the face of the regime's conduct and argued that the futile negotiations with it will not lead to any change in its positions. According to the articles, the regime's pursuit of nuclear weapons and its export of terrorism are meant to guarantee its survival. Therefore, as long as this regime exists, it will not stop advancing these aims, although the Iranian people are unwilling to sacrifice themselves to this end. The authors of the articles stressed that Iranian people, which suffers the regime's tyranny, now feels it has a historic opportunity to achieve freedom and justice. Therefore, it will not cease its struggle until the regime is overthrown and Iran is established as a free and democratic state. "The time has come for the Iranian regime to collapse," said the writers, and called on the international community to support the people's struggle. Iranians in Europe protest against the regime (Image: April 25, 2025) The following are translated excerpts from these articles: Iranian Oppositionist: As Long as the Iranian Regime Exists, It Will Not Cease Its Repression, Terror And Pursuit Of Nuclear Weapons; The Solution Is For The People To Replace It In an article published on June 16, 2025, three days after Israel launched its offensive against Iran, Iranian oppositionist Nezam Mir Mohammadi stated that, as a result of this attack, the Iranian regime is now facing an existential threat. He urged the international community to take a firm stance against it, and to understand that it will never stop its terror and repression, so that the only choice is for the Iranian people to replace it. Mohammadi wrote: "The Iranian regime is at a dangerous turning point in light of escalating international and regional tensions. The resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors,[2] as well as Israel's military strike on the Natanz nuclear facility [and its elimination of] senior Iranian officials, have placed the regime in an embarrassing situation. Now it is trying to buy time and maneuver to avoid [further] confrontation, but it is facing unprecedented pressures that threaten its continued existence... "For over four decades the Iranian regime has relied on instigating wars by means of its proxies in the countries of the region, which turned it into a major source of chaos and instability. By politicizing [various] religious and Islamic-Arab causes, this regime managed to impose its influence on the region's countries and to embroil them in long-term conflicts… "The regime tries to use these tensions [in the region] to mobilize the Islamic countries and peoples to support it, but after 46 years of deception and concealment, the world now realizes the truth about it. This strategy, which was effective in the past, no longer works because the world [now] sees the regime turning against the interests of the region and of the Iranian people itself. "The Iranian regime currently faces two options: either succumb to the international demands by dismantling its nuclear program and [thus] lose one of its sources of strength, or continue the escalation, which will lead to a military confrontation that sources have called 'military suicide.' The Israeli attacks, as well as the exposure of the secret nuclear program by the [Iranian] opposition,[3] increased the regime's isolation in the international arena. Its insistence on continuing its policy of deception and of instigating crises left it at an impasse, for its mask has slipped, exposing its true face as a threat to the region's security… "The international community must reassess its policy toward Iran, with focus on [taking] a firm stance that will ensure the region's stability and security. Continuing its present policy could bring the [Iranian] regime to a disastrous confrontation, not only with the world but also with its [own] people. "The clerics who rule Iran have a rich record of deception and concealment, and were it not for the [information] exposed by the Iranian opposition over the past 34 years, they would have obtained nuclear weapons long ago. This regime has never met its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) or under UN Security Council Resolution 2231,[4] and has always used negotiations to buy time and [to try] to complete its nuclear program. "Obtaining a nuclear bomb, exporting terror and sparking foreign wars served this regime as a strategic [way to] guarantee its survival. Due to the great failures suffered by the regime and its proxies in the region over the past year, the nuclear program became even more vital to it. Experience proves that, as long as this regime exists, it will not cease its oppression, terror, export of extremism, instigation of wars and [advancement of] its nuclear program. The ultimate way to eliminate this terrorist tyranny, [that seeks to be] armed with a nuclear bomb, is for the Iranian people and opposition to replace this regime. And as thousands of lawmakers, leaders and senior political figures in various countries have declared, the international community must recognize the right of the Iranian people and the Iranian opposition to fight this regime and replace it."[5] Iranian Oppositionist: The Iranian People Will Continue Its Struggle Until The Regime Falls And A Free, Democratic Iran Is Established In an April 22, 2025 article, NCRI member Mehdi Oghbai noted that the renewal of nuclear negotiations between the Iranian regime and the West was frequently accompanied by a surge in the regime's execution of dissidents. He explained that this phenomenon stems from the regime's fear of a domestic uprising against it, and stressed that, despite the danger, the Iranian people will continue their struggle until they achieve their liberty. Oghbai wrote: "Amid the internal and external crises faced by the Iranian regime, there is a close and conspicuous connection between a rise in the number of executions and the start of new rounds of nuclear negotiations. This link is no coincidence. It is a calculated strategy [on the part of the regime] aimed at repressing the Iranian people and preventing the outbreak of a popular uprising as a result of the regime's weakness in these negotiations. In 2024 there was a significant surge in executions by the Iranian regime. By February there were 124 [executions], six times as many as in February 2023 (21 cases)… "The Iranian resistance renews its call for the UN, the EU countries and all the international organizations that defend human rights to condemn these barbaric executions and take immediate measures to save the lives of the prisoners sentenced to death, especially the political prisoners. "In his Eid Al-Fitr sermon, [Iran's Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei revealed his real fears, saying that the biggest threat [to Iran] was internal rather than external, namely, the possibility of popular revolutions and uprisings. This fear causes the regime to increase the rate of executions, especially of political prisoners, in order to intimidate the people and prevent any protest activity. The Iranian resistance, which represents the voice of the people yearning for liberty, underscores that these executions are a desperate attempt by the regime to survive amid the increasing pressures it is facing. "Khamenei himself described the nuclear negotiations as 'dishonorable,' which indicates that he realizes he will have to make concessions. These concessions, which reflect the regime's weakness and helplessness, are a clear message to the Iranian people, who are preparing to take this opportunity to rise up. This is why the regime resorts to executions as a means of repressing the public, in an attempt to stem the wave of protests it thinks may come… Suffering under the tyranny and oppression of this regime, the Iranian people see this moment as a historic opportunity to attain liberty and justice. "In sum, these developments reveal the distress of the Iranian regime, which is trying in vain to extinguish the embers of popular resistance. History teaches that no oppression, no matter how cruel, can stop a people determined to achieve its freedom. The Iranian resistance, which enjoys the support of the people, will keep struggling until this regime falls and a free and democratic Iran arises."[6] Iranian Oppositionist: The Time Has Come for the Iranian Regime to Collapse; The People Are Fed Up With It Just As They Were Fed Up With The Shah Following the attacks on Iran by Israel and the U.S., Iranian oppositionist Mahmoud Hakimian, a member of the NCRI's Foreign Affairs Committee, called on the international community and the countries of the region to help the Iranian resistance topple the regime, which, he said, has spent four decades waging war in the region and deceiving the world at the negotiating table, and is now continuing on this destructive path. He wrote: "For the past four decades, the region has experienced wars and conflicts that have left a negative mark on the people who live there… The indisputable fact is that they all occurred following the establishment of the regime of the Islamic Republic, which is based on the extremist ideology of the Rule of the Jurisprudent. "The positive diplomatic efforts and the contacts held by the countries of the region and the international community with the Iranian regime did not prevent the outbreak of the wars [instigated by Iran]. Worse, with the passage of time these [wars] became much more bitter, destructive and dangerous to the peace and security of the region and the world… "Against the backdrop of the series of wars in the region, which ended with the fall of the Syrian regime and the curtailment of Hizbullah's military role in Lebanon, the most recent confrontation between Israel and the Iranian regime erupted in the context of Iran's nuclear program. This is a very grave confrontation that is likely to bring the region to the edge of an abyss. No matter what has been said or written about the circumstances of this confrontation, [it is clear that] the central and significant motivation for it is the policy of the Iranian regime and its [stubborn] adherence to its plans and its dubious path. Even if we assume that this confrontation will end, there is no guarantee that another war won't break out as long as this regime exists and adheres to its path. "No agreement with this regime, including a nuclear agreement, can influence its aggressive nature, now or in the future. When this regime rows weak, it keeps silent and presents itself as innocent; but if it senses that it has the upper hand and that the conditions are right, it will revert to its familiar pattern in the region and the world. [Then, the region and the world] will not be safe from its evil unless they support the legitimate struggle of the Iranian people for freedom, for a [new Iranian] regime that believes in human rights and coexistence, and for a non-nuclear Iran that maintains a separation between religion and state."[7] In an earlier article, Hakimian argued that today's popular resistance against the Iranian regime closely resembles the opposition against the Shah's regime in 1978, just before its collapse. He stated that the Iranian people, who have paid a heavy price for the regime's nuclear program, are tired of this and are no longer willing to do so, and that the time has come to overthrow the regime and to reforge Iran as a democracy. Hakimian wrote: "The rapid events and developments of the situation in Iran, especially the domestic developments, are reminiscent of 1978, the year preceding the fall of the Shah's regime, when everything was at an impasse. The regime [at that time] did everything in its power to ensure its survival, and even agreed to unprecedented concessions in order to stop the spread of the growing popular resistance. But [eventually], what happened, happened... and the regime had no choice but to face its bitter fate and collapse. "The similarity between 1978 and 2025 lies in the popular sense of rejection and hatred toward the regime, which have reached their peak… However, it is important to note that, in addition to the regime's acts of oppression [against its own people], which have crossed [every] line, the regime's foreign policy has also turned Iran into a source of terror that instigates wars and crises [abroad], thus harming Iran's reputation and standing in the international arena. This [too] has caused the people to be fed up with this regime and regard it as unfit to rule… "The main demand in Iran right now is for a regime change that will not allow the return of dictatorship. That is why the popular protests are increasing significantly, as well as the operations of the Resistance Units,[8] which the regime can no longer hide… The Iranian people, who became fed up with the previous regime [of the Shah] and saw no choice but to overthrow it, are now taking a similar stance toward [the current regime]… "What is clear is that the Iranian people, who suffered greatly because of the nuclear program and continue to suffer because of it, are not willing to sacrifice for a dubious program that has brought nothing but negative consequences for them and for Iran. This regime, which is heading for a disconnect with the world, is doing the same thing vis-à-vis its [own] people, who will apparently not allow it to remain. It is time for the Iranian regime to collapse. This is the moment to replace it, to support the Iranian people and resistance in overthrowing this terror-sponsoring regime, and to establish a democratic and popular government."[9]
Memri
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Arab Writers: Iran Is An Enemy Of The Arabs; By Attacking It, Israel Did The Job The Arabs Were Afraid Of
After Israeli launched its military operation against Iran and its nuclear facilities on June 13, 2025, all the Arab countries except for Syria rushed to condemn it and to express support for Iran, including countries whose relations with Iran are marked by tension and suspicion. For example, a statement from the Saudi foreign ministry condemned "the harsh Israeli attacks on the sister Iranian Islamic Republic," and Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan hastened to phone his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to express his support.[1] The Emirati foreign ministry likewise issued a "stern" condemnation of "Israel's military attack" and expressed concern about further escalation and its impact on the security and stability of the region.[2] The Egyptian foreign ministry described the situation as "a very dangerous regional escalation, a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter and a direct threat to regional and international peace and security."[3] At a meeting of Jordan's National Security Council convened to discuss the implications of the Israeli attack, King Abdullah II described it as "a violation of international law… and of the sovereignty of the country," and declared that Jordan opposed anyone "turning it into an arena of war."[4] Conversely, liberal writers in these countries were outspoken in their support for Israel and for its attack on Iran, and expressed admiration of Israel's military capabilities, while noting that it is defending not only itself but the entire Middle East. The Israeli operation, they stressed, proved that the threats voiced by Iran against it over so many years were empty and hollow, and that Iran is merely "a paper tiger," as stated in the past by Saudi officials such as former foreign minister Saud Al-Faisal. Responding to Arabs who called to support Iran in its difficult hour because it is a protector of the Muslims and the Palestinians, these writers argued that, in actual fact, Iran has operated against Arab countries for years and massacred their citizens. Some also urged the Iranian people to seize the opportunity to rise up against the oppressive Iranian regime. This report reviews examples of this liberal discourse: Israel Has The Right To Attack Iran On June 12, one day before the Israeli attack on Iran, Emirati political analyst Salem Al-Ketbi wrote on the Saudi website Elaph: "Israel finds itself facing a blatant and unambiguous existential threat, given the verified intelligence about the progress of Iran's nuclear program and the development of its missile arsenal with direct support from China. In light of this escalation, a military strike appears to be a necessity rather than a strategic luxury. However, [a military strike by Israel] may not be sufficient to stop the Iranian project unless accompanied by large-scale American involvement and unprecedented international pressure. And so the major question remains: does the international community have the political will to bear the consequences of this confrontation, or will Western hesitation leave Israel and the entire region teetering on the edge of a nuclear storm that threatens everyone?"[5] Israel Dazzles The World With Amazing Campaigns, Makes Sacrifices For The Region And The World Many writers expressed admiration for the Israeli campaign, which began with a series of attacks on military targets across Iran. Saudi journalist Abdullah Al-Jadi' wrote: "Israel is dazzling the world in the full sense of the word: fronts are lighting up everywhere, [with] unprecedented infiltrations and high-quality operations unlike anything the world has known before. Yet despite this, some [supporters of the] Muslim Brotherhood keep repeating that [Israel] is drowning in the sands of Gaza."[6] Some writers thanked Israel for its operation against Iran, saying that this country has for years caused great harm in many Arab countries, but they did nothing to stop it. Hence, the Israeli attack benefits the Arabs and even humanity as a whole. Saudi journalist Abd Al-Aziz Al-Khames wrote on X that "Netanyahu has done what none of the Arabs have." He also shared an eight-minute video in which he said that Iran has harmed the Arabs for years, interfering in their countries' affairs and destroyed them, but despite this it was never punished and never suffered, but rather managed to expand, spread and increase its power in the region. This, he added, went on "until Allah brought the Arabs Netanyahu," who managed to attack the bases of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria, thus paving the way to the fall of the Assad regime, and also managed to attack Hizbullah in Lebanon. "Netanyahu is doing what the Arabs and all their leaders never managed to do in the past," he wrote. "He has managed to grant the Arabs many gifts and to weaken Iran."[7] Emirati activist Loay Alshareef posted in English: "Israel is not fighting on its behalf, Israel is fighting on behalf of humanity."[8] Brave Israel Is Liberating The Middle East From Terrorism; This Is A Gift To The Region And To Humanity As A Whole Some of the writers who praised Israel for its operation and expressed total support for it wrote that, while Israel attacks military facilities, Iran deliberately attacks Israeli civilians. Kuwaiti liberal Jasem Ak-Juraid shared pictures of devastation caused to residential neighborhoods in Israel, and commented: "I am Kuwaiti and I say that Israel attacks nuclear facilities and terrorists [while] the despicable Mullah regime kills innocent people of different races using imprecise ballistic missiles. Terror is clearly Khamenei's conduct and way of life, [whereas] Israel wants comprehensive peace in the region and sacrifices [greatly] to eliminate terrorism. [I feel nothing but] solidarity with Israel, its people and its army." Al-Juraid ended his post with an Israeli flag emoji. In another post, accompanied by the same emoji, he wrote: "Brave Israel is doing a humanitarian service to the Middle East by destroying the fascist nuclear facilities of the Supreme Leader of occupied Iran." Al-Juraid also posted in Hebrew, writing: "You [Israelis] are a great people that has suffered much at the hands of the fascist Iranian regime. You are the ones liberating the Middle East from terrorism. I wish the Israeli people security and victory. What you are doing is a gift to the Middle East and to humanity at large. As always, I feel solidarity with you and love you, [both the Israeli] people and [your] army." In another post he added: "Can a single operation lasting several hours completely destroy nuclear infrastructures? Nobody has ever achieved such a brilliant accomplishment… Israel dazzles the world and we wish it and its people security."[9] One of Jasem Al-Juraid's posts Bahraini liberal Amjad Taha wrote in English: "Iran is violating international law by entering the airspace of sovereign nations without permission to target and kill children. Right now, as babies and women in Israel stand on the frontlines of humanity, the Islamist regime in Iran unleashes terror, striking schools, hospitals, and homes in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. We condemn this wickedness…"[10] Iran Is A Paper Tiger Several writers stated that the success of the Israeli attacks in Iran prove that the latter's threats over the years to destroy Israel were hollow and show that it is merely a paper tiger – as senior Saudi officials have said in the past, among them former foreign minister Saud Al-Faisal and former intelligence chief and ambassador to the U.S. Turki Al-Faisal. Saudi writer Jihad Al-Obaid posted a picture of a paper tiger and wrote: "For more than 18 hours, Israel has been attacking sensitive targets and military bases [in Iran], eliminating military commanders and prominent scientists, and destroying radar, missile launchers and nuclear facilities, while Tehran has been watching helplessly, unable to do anything but make empty boasts. Those are the [true] capabilities of Iran, which has been threatening to wipe Israel off the map and liberate Jerusalem for over 40 years."[11] Jihad Al-Obaid's post Moroccan security expert Abd Al-Haq Al-Sanaibi wrote on X: "The Israeli attack in Iran will reveal that the Safavid entity [i.e., Iran] is a 'paper tiger,' as one of the Saudi princes called it. This is the end of the myth of [Iran's slogan] 'death to Israel and death to America'…"[12] Emirati political analyst Salem Al-Ketbi wrote: "History has no mercy and geography offers no protection. Whoever thinks the mountains will protect Iran from an Israeli attack should remember how regimes and countries stronger [than Iran] fell at decisive moments. As the confrontation continues, Iran becomes like a person digging his grave with his own hands. The sanctions are eroding its economy and the attacks are emptying its warehouses while its leaders hide in tunnels. The difference between Israel and Iran is that Israel takes the initiative and attacks whenever it wants, while Iran has nothing but cries and empty threats. This is exactly what happened during the recent night of missile attacks. Whoever counts on the strong position of the Mullah regime is like someone who bets on a losing horse in a race already run. Every passing day brings [the Mullahs] closer to the inescapable moment of truth [and to] a resounding collapse."[13] Iran Fights Against The Muslims And The Arabs, Not For Them Some of the writers rejected claims made by supporters of Iran, that it deserves assistance and support for the sacrifices it has made for the sake of the Palestinians and the Arabs. They retorted that Iran acts only in its own interests and has, in fact, harmed Arabs and Muslims. Saudi online activist Abd Al-Karim Al-Awad responded to a post by Algerian commentator Hafid Al-Derradji, who called to support Iran because it is a Muslim country. Al-Awad wrote: "Where were your conscience and manliness when Iran and its militias were killing Sunnis in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen[?] Where was your conscience when Iran was destroying [these] four Arab countries[?] Where was your conscience when Iran was displacing over ten million Syrians from their country[?] Where was your conscience when Iran was sowing corruption, killing, slaughtering and bombing… A dog is a dog even if covered in gold." [14] Saudi writer Saleh Al-Fahid wrote: "Iran is fighting just to defend its nuclear program, not for the sake of the Palestinians or Muslims. When Gaza was being pulverized, the Iranians did not fight for its people, tens of thousands of whom were killed. The attempt of some of Iran's supporters to paint [its] confrontation [with Israel] as anything but a struggle over nuclear power is an act of deception and misleading."[15] In another post he wrote: "The biggest lie being spread by [Iran's] proxies and tools is that it is fighting Israel today to advance the Palestinian cause and support Gaza. That is clearly untrue. The war has broken out because Israel bombed and attacked Iran and eliminated its military commanders and nuclear scientists in order to keep it from completing its nuclear program. Iran did not fire a single bullet until 12 hours later. This means that Iran is not fighting on anyone's behalf, but was forced to respond to a massive and extremely painful Israeli attack."[16] Egyptian liberal Amr Bakly wrote: "As far as I am concerned, no excuse is more despicable and crooked than citing international law and legitimacy to defend the legitimacy of the Iranian regime. For 45 years, [Iran has been responsible for] terror, crimes and assassinations on four continents, and for thousands of victims, and then some political novices come along and speak to us about international law and sovereignty. This regime, and its supporters who are defending it, can go to hell."[17] Egyptian liberal and author Amr Bakly rejected the claim that with its attack Israel was violating international law and wrote: "There is no more pathetic and warped logic than employing the law and international legitimacy to defend the legitimacy of the Iranian regime. For 45 years [Iran has orchestrated] terrorism, crime and assassinations on four continents, which claimed hundreds of thousands of victims and then a few political novices come along and talk about international law and sovereignty. If only this regime and its supporters would all go to hell."[18] Calls For The Iranian People to Rise Up Against The Regime Bahraini media figure Ahdeya Ahmed Al-Sayed urged the Iranians to take advantage of the weakness of the Iranian regime following the attacks and bring it down. In an English post on her X account she wrote: "Following Israeli airstrikes in Tehran that killed the IRGC commander, top officials, and nuclear scientists — and severely injured Khamenei's advisor and Iran's Chief of Staff – the Iranian people face a once-in-a-lifetime chance to rise and end 46 years of terrorism and tyranny"[19] Criticism Of The Arabs: Their Hatred Of Israel Blinds Them To What Iran Has Done To Their Brethren Egyptian liberal Dalia Ziada criticized the Egyptian media for mobilizing in support of Iran, "the greatest enemy of the Arabs," just because Israel is the one fighting against it, and claimed that this media ignores Iran's crimes and the damages it has caused to Arab countries, among them to Egypt itself. She posted on X, in Arabic and in English: Egyptian liberal Dalia Ziada wrote in Arabic and English: "The animosity toward Israel has so thoroughly consumed the Egyptian perspective that it has obscured reason and clouded judgment. The Egyptian media, state-affiliated digital platforms, social media trolls, and much of the Egyptian public have expressed a strikingly disproportionate alignment with Iran! An alignment that defies logic when viewed against the backdrop of Iran's long-standing hostility toward Egypt. "It is worth recalling that Iran, since 1981, honored the assassin of the Egyptian President Anwar Sadat by naming a major street in Tehran after him; a move that stood uncorrected for over four decades. Only two days before the recent conflict between Israel and Iran erupted, this affront was quietly reversed following the Iranian Foreign Minister's strange visit to Cairo last month, where he shared a symbolic meal of koshary downtown Cairo, and engaged with senior officials, including three former Egyptian foreign ministers among them was Amr Moussa, the most prominent Arab diplomat of his era (and the one guilty of originating the diplomatic hostile rhetoric against Israel that Egyptians and most Arabs still use until today)! "Equally troubling is the role of the Iran-backed #Houthi militia, whose repeated assaults on shipping in the Red Sea have inflicted substantial economic harm on Egypt. These disruptions have significantly diminished revenues from the Suez Canal, a critical artery of Egypt's economy and a vital source of dollars and national income. It is also worth remembering the death and displacement inflicted by Iran's militias and proxies upon your fellow Arabs across #Iraq, #Syria, #Lebanon, #Yemen, and beyond. You, the Egyptian people, rose in protest and grief for #Gaza. Yet, not once have you raised your voice against Iran's brutal actions in these other Arab lands. Why? Because it is Iran, not Israel, that is killing your Arab brothers and sisters. So, it is acceptable!! Hatred - hatred of Israel and the Jews - has blinded your eyes and hearts and closed your minds to the point that you have decided to stand in solidarity with the worst enemy of the Arabs (the Iranian regime) simply because the one fighting them is Israel! Shame on You! Wake up, Egyptians. "[20]
Memri
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Writer On Saudi Website: Israel's War On Iran Is A Great Service To Humanity; We Are Grateful To It
In an article on the Saudi website Elaph titled "The Israeli Defense Forces – Mankind's Defense against the Forces of Darkness," Muhmmad Sa'd Khairallah, an Egyptian writer and political analyst who resides in Sweden, expressed unreserved support for the Israeli military operation against Iran and its nuclear facilities, and slammed all those in the Arab world who condemn this operation. He argued that, by coming out against the Iranian regime, which is responsible for immense bloodshed in the many Arab countries and for grave crimes against the Iranian people themselves, Israel is doing a great service to the region and the world at large. Furthermore, he said, by attacking Iran's nuclear facilities Israel is ridding humanity of an existential threat. "Israel is not just defending itself but waging a campaign on behalf of the [entire] free world against the Iran-led forces of darkness," he wrote. Stressing that the moral Israeli army focuses its attacks on military targets and avoids harming civilians, whereas Iran deliberately targets innocent people, Khairallah stated that Iran must be held accountable for its crimes, including the crime of orchestrating Hamas' October 7 attack against Israel. He concluded by calling on the Iranian people to take advantage of this "historic opportunity" to topple their regime, and by thanking Israel "for defending itself [along with] the future of our children and grandchildren… and the values of freedom, dignity and the right to live." The following are translated excerpts from his article:[1] "Amid the ongoing confrontation between Israel and the Iranian ayatollahs, there is another aspect that should be mentioned beyond the direct military discussion or the discourse about [Israel's] unprecedented scientific and technological advancement, especially its use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Middle East arena. This is an astonishing advancement by the Israeli military, worthy of a series of analytical articles by experts. However, today I wish to focus on a deeper truth: the justice enacted by Israel in the face of the Iranian machine of destruction. "Looking at the horrific devastation Iran has wrought in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Gaza, we cannot be anything but astonished by those who attack Israel while ignoring the mounting destruction [caused by Iran in those countries]. The Arab victims killed by the Iranian militias and their proxies far outnumber the victims in all the wars between Israel and the Arab countries over the years. [There have been] millions of refugees and missing persons, as well as countless wounded and dead... "This is in addition to the ongoing crimes [of the Iranian regime] against the Iranian people themselves: the suppression of protests, the murder of nonviolent demonstrators, and the silencing of any voice that demands freedom and a civil state instead of the blood-soaked rule of the clerics. One of the tools of this criminal machine is Iran's Houthi puppet, as it has come to be known, namely that gang that threatens the security and stability of the Gulf under direct orders from Tehran just because the peoples of the Gulf have chosen the path of construction and peace over the hollow slogans of war. "The precise strikes carried out by the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] against Iranian military sites and facilities early Friday morning were the epitome of justice, and proclaimed loud and clear that the [Iranian] machine of destruction must pay a price for its crimes. With this legitimate act, Israel is not just defending itself but waging a campaign on behalf of the [entire] free world against the Iran-led forces of darkness, those forces that sanctify death and that murder the future in the name of a distorted past and false slogans that have brought [people] nothing but misery... "Here lies the true test of our shared humanity: [deciding] to which camp we belong – the camp of life, liberty and dignity, or the camp of darkness...? Israel, in its humanity, repeatedly demonstrates that it does not target innocent Iranian civilians, but directs its strikes precisely at [Iran's] military commanders, nuclear facilities and military facilities, in order to save itself, the region and the world from an impending disaster. Iran, on the other hand, deliberately targets civilians, and launches missiles at Israeli cities in order to cause casualties among innocent people. What a vast difference between values that protect human life and forces that can breathe only the scent of blood. "It is disheartening to see that some people condemn Israel for defending itself and the region from a nuclear threat that endangers all of mankind. Is there a greater injustice than shielding a criminal from punishment while condemning the victim for defending his existence? Is it not justice that Iran should bear the consequences for orchestrating the October 7, 2023 terror [attack]? Is it not reasonable to hold it to account for its crimes against the peoples of the Middle East? "In this context, we must remember, with both pride and pain, the names enshrined forever in the annals of the resistance against the ayatollah regime – foremost among them Mahsa Amini, the young Kurdish-Iranian woman who was killed by the [Iranian] morality police in September 2022 simply because her hijab did not meet the standards of the oppressors. Her martyrdom sparked a sweeping popular uprising inside Iran and beyond that embraced the slogan 'Woman, Life, Freedom.' [Another martyr is] Neda Agha-Soltan, who was shot to death by the oppressive [regime] forces during the 2009 Green Movement protests[2] for demanding a simple right: freedom and dignity for her people. In addition to these two there are hundreds of women and young girls who paid for their courage with their lives or their freedom. Many of them are incarcerated to this day in the prisons of the Rule of the Jurisprudent [i.e., the Iranian regime]. After all that has been said above – can anyone truly condemn those who come out against this criminal regime? "With this legitimate [act of] defense, Israel is doing an immense service to the region and to the world. If it manages to destroy or paralyze Iran's nuclear program, it will effectively prevent a regime that harms other nations in the most abhorrent way from possessing deadly nuclear weapons… "To the honorable Iranian people, [I say]: this is your historic opportunity to rid yourselves of the nightmare of the ayatollah regime. The entire world is watching as the masks of the clerics fall. The time has come to unite your will for the sake of a new Iran, one that belongs to its noble culture, not to the crimes of the ayatollahs committed in the name of religion. "I end my article with a heartfelt expression of gratitude to the IDF, which has proven itself to be a moral army, deeply aware of the value of military honor, and has demonstrated that the ayatollahs' terror cannot go unpunished. Many thanks to Israel for defending itself [along with] the future of our children and grandchildren and the right of future generations to live in a humane Middle East where everyone lives in peace. [Israel is defending] the values of freedom, dignity and the right to live. [May] the forces of liberty and humanity prevail over the forces of oppression and bloodshed."
Memri
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Palestinian Journalist: Arab Countries Should Impose Sanctions On Hamas Leaders Abroad To End The Gaza War
In an article published May 26, 2025 on the Saudi news website Elaph, Palestinian journalist Hamid Karman, who resides in Amman, Jordan, called on Arab countries to impose sanctions on Hamas leaders abroad, as a move that will lead to a shift in the equation of the confrontation and an end to the Gaza-Israel war. Expressing harsh criticism of the Hamas leaders abroad and describing them as living in luxury hotels in Doha, Istanbul and Teheran and accumulating money while Gazans bear the burden of the war on their own, Karman wrote that these leaders are impervious to the cries for a realistic solution. There is an urgent need, he stated, to bring Arab pressure to bear on Hamas by means of sanctions – which he said should include restricting the movement of its senior officials and cutting off its funding and its access to fundraising – so as to compel the organization to change direction and bring an end to the war. He contended that such a step would not only help to end the fighting and suffering in Gaza, but would also advance solutions to additional regional crises, such as disarming the Palestinian organizations in Lebanon, and would prevent Hamas from obstructing Arab and international plans aimed at reaching a comprehensive solution for stability in the Middle East. Hamid Karman (Source: The following is the translation of Karman's May 26, 2025 article on Elaph: "It is known that the equation of the war in Gaza relies on the continued [existence] of its two sides – the Israeli right led by Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, and the Palestinian right, as represented by the Hamas movement – and there will be no end to the war without one of them surrendering... "The war will not end as long as the Hamas leaders abroad enjoy all their creature comforts in luxury hotels in Doha, Istanbul, and Teheran, accumulate money that they distribute amongst themselves, and give TV interviews, making demagogic declarations that show the movement's bankruptcy in the face of the suffering of the unarmed Palestinian people... "The senior Hamas officials close their ears to the clamor of the many voices calling for adopting a realistic [approach] to deal with the consequences of the struggle, by finding a political formula to impose a solution that will contribute to stopping the plans of the right-wing Israeli government. This is because the price being paid by the Palestinians, in its children and in its infrastructure, is greater than any amount that the movement may gain from holding the Israeli hostages. The truth is that Hamas has no more options, or room for political maneuvering... "At present, the vacuum in the [Hamas] military leadership in Gaza, following a series of killings carried out by Israel, will lead to a freeze in Hamas's positions in negotiations. This necessitates sanctions by Arab [countries] on the leaders of the movement abroad so that things will move forward. These sanctions [must] include preventing, and restricting, their [the Hamas leaders'] movements among Arab countries or through their airspace and their airports, and [must] hobble the movement's efforts to acquire funding by [imposing] an embargo, cutting off [its] financial support networks, and stopping the fundraising on which it relies by means of straw companies... "There is a pressing need to tighten the political and financial noose on the Hamas leaders abroad. This will not only bring an end to the war in the Gaza Strip, or to the tragedy of its inhabitants, who have had enough of the conflict and long for an end to the 18 months and more of violence and scarcity – it will also will also lead to a solution to the crises that we see on the horizon for several Middle Eastern countries, and in particular the matter of the weapons of the factions in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. In this context, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has shown unprecedented responsiveness to Lebanon's official demands in order to conclude this complicated issue. This necessitates bringing swift pressure to bear on Hamas and on the factions that support it, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Osbat Al-Ansar [operating out of the Ain Al-Hilweh refugee camp in Lebanon] so that they will surrender their weapons, without armed confrontation with the Lebanese Armed Forces. This will allow Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and his government led by [Prime Minister] Nawaf Salam to lay the foundations of the nation state with one regime, one law, and one weapon [i.e. held by only one body], as a prelude to actually tackling the issue of disarming Hizbullah. "The move [to impose] Arab sanctions is crucial to framing [our] relationship with Hamas the militia – which after October 7 has deluded itself that it can impose its equations on the region and change the international balance of power. Hamas is also betting on the overthrow of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu by the Israeli street, and thus will not hesitate to drag out [the negotiations] in the expectation that circumstances will turn in its favor as the de facto government in Gaza. This means that it will continue to be a stumbling block for the emerging Arab and international plans to reach a comprehensive solution that will lead to the stability of the Middle East...[1]"
