The Jerusalem Post

The mullahs’ dangerous gambit

- • By ERFAN FARD The writer is a counterter­rorism analyst and Middle East studies researcher based in Washington, with a particular focus on Iran and ethnic conflicts in the region. His new book is The Black Shabbat, published in the US. You can follow hi

In these turbulent times, the Middle East finds itself at a crossroads, fraught with tension and uncertaint­y. It teeters on the edge of uncertaint­y, a psychologi­cal war brewing, one that the ruling mullahs of Iran seem eager to escalate.

The discourse between two pivotal states – regional actors in their own right – veers dangerousl­y towards conflict. The people of Iran and Israel, caught in this geopolitic­al storm, watch anxiously as their leaders navigate a precarious path. In Iran, the atmosphere is particular­ly charged; a nation on edge watches as the specter of war looms large. The people’s fear is palpable and their future uncertain. At the heart of this brewing tempest are Iran’s ruling clerics, the mullahs, whose actions have not just risked regional stability but have courted disaster, igniting the flames of conflict without possessing the mettle to endure its consequenc­es.

The region, particular­ly the communitie­s of Iran and Israel, watches with bated breath as tensions escalate, revealing the fragility and fear that grip the Iranian populace.

The Islamic Republic’s reliance on a triad of strategies – missile launches, the provocatio­n of proxy terrorist groups, and an aggressive propaganda campaign – betrays a regime more concerned with maintainin­g appearance­s than securing genuine victories. These tactics, emblematic of a state both isolated and reviled on the global stage, underscore a desperate cling to power. Yet, despite its machinatio­ns, Iran finds itself alone, its so-called allies in the axis of evil – China, Russia, and North Korea – prepared to abandon it to its fate, unwilling to confront the internatio­nal community in defense of a corrupt and faltering regime.

Amid this tumult, this isolation is further compounded by the complex dance of internatio­nal relations.

Despite the Soviet Union’s historical influence within Iran’s military echelons, its objectives align with the preservati­on of clerical rule, a stance echoed somewhat ambiguousl­y by the United States. The United States, under successive administra­tions, has shown a reluctance to push for regime change, opting instead for a fraught engagement with a government that has, for over four decades, perpetuate­d a cycle of terrorism and repression. This inertia, however, has only emboldened the mullahs who continue to wield ideology as a weapon, further entrenchin­g their rule and exacerbati­ng regional tensions.

The ideologica­l warfare that the Islamic Republic wages – predicated on the destructiv­e tenets of Khomeinism – poses a direct threat not just to Israel but to the very fabric of internatio­nal peace and stability. This war, alien to the Iranian populace yet zealously pursued by its leaders, seeks nothing less than the annihilati­on of perceived adversarie­s, driven by a warped vision that has fueled conflict since the regime’s inception in 1979.

The departure of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi heralded the onset of an era marked by instabilit­y and strife, as the Middle East grappled with the vacuum left by a once-stabilizin­g force. Today, the region stands at the brink, ravaged by the actions of a regime that has systematic­ally prioritize­d its survival over the well-being of its people and neighbors. The mullahs’ regime, through its relentless pursuit of conflict and chaos, has not only alienated itself on the world stage but has jeopardize­d the very future of Iran.

Yet, should Israel retaliate, it is unlikely that the Iranian populace would stand with their government, especially given the regime’s history of brutalizin­g its own citizens. The mullahs’ reign is marked by violence and suppressio­n, a far cry from the democratic ideals and peace desired by the majority.

Albeit, as the specter of war grows ever more tangible, it becomes clear that the internatio­nal community remains divided on the issue of Islamic terrorism, with no concerted effort akin to the movements that dismantled apartheid and communism. Iran, for its part, appears determined to escalate tensions, seemingly oblivious to the catastroph­ic losses it faces. In this grim tableau, the mullahs’ regime emerges as the architect of its own demise, clinging to power through a campaign of fear and oppression, even as its actions sow the seeds of its eventual downfall.

As the world is witness to this unfolding tragedy, one truth remains undeniable: the resilience of the Iranian people, whose spirit remains unbroken despite decades of tyranny. Theirs is a quest for freedom, a beacon of hope in a region darkened by the shadow of conflict.

It is this spirit, ultimately, that holds the key to a future defined not by the ambitions of despotic rulers, but by the collective will of a people yearning for peace, stability, and prosperity.

 ?? (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/West Asia News Agency/Reuters) ?? IRAN’S SUPREME Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei looks on during a meeting in Tehran, earlier this month.
(Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/West Asia News Agency/Reuters) IRAN’S SUPREME Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei looks on during a meeting in Tehran, earlier this month.

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