The exiled Crown Prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, is calling on the Iranian people to rid themselves of the tyrannical Islamic regime, declaring, “This is our Berlin Wall moment.”
Pahlavi referred to the historic November 1989 moment when Germans on both sides of the Berlin Wall separating east and West Germany surged forward and crossed over the wall, marking the beginning of the end of East Germany’s repressive government.
Pahlavi, speaking in Paris at a press conference, called for Iran Supreme leader Ali Khamenei to step down, asserting, “Our beloved Iran has been dragged into a devastating conflict, the architect of which is no other than Ali Khamenei and his corrupt destructive faction. He has driven our nation’s economy to the brink of collapse, plundered our national infrastructure and resources, squandered the nation’s wealth on developing nuclear weapons, shattered Iran’s security, and stolen the sovereignty of the Iranian people.”
“Credible reports indicate that Ali Khamenei’s family and the family of senior officials are making preparations to flee Iran. The regime is on its last legs in towns and cities across the country. The military is fractured,” he noted.
“I am establishing a formal channel for military security and police personnel to reach out directly to me, my team, and our expanding operation,” he announced. “This is a secure platform to efficiently manage the growing volume of inbound communications and requests from those breaking with the regime and seeking to join our movement.”
Pahlavi&#8217;s speech came just a day after President Donald Trump called for &#8220;regime change&#8221; in Iran, saying it was time to &#8220;Make Iran Great Again.&#8221;
&#8220;If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn&#8217;t there be a Regime change???&#8221; Trump wrote.
Pahlavi warned that the destruction of the Natanz, Esfahan, and Fordow enrichment facilities had diminished the regime’s domestic nuclear enrichment, but did not diminish the regime’s intent to acquire and use nuclear weapons. “The regime, enraged and emboldened, will be seeking revenge, and can, it can nuclear weapons from other rogue regimes like North Korea,” he stated. “The destruction of the regime’s nuclear facilities alone will not deliver peace, but the path I offer can. So work with us to ensure a peaceful transition. Now is not the time for hesitation. Now is the time for principled action from each of us.”
Looking forward, he said:
<blockquote>
Our transition and future democracy will be based on these three core principles: Iran’s territorial integrity, individual liberties and equality of all citizens; separation of religion and state. The final form of this future democracy we seek will be for the Iranian people to decide in a national referendum. What I offer is not just a vision for the future of our country, but a plan to execute a peaceful orderly transition. To achieve that, today I am announcing the following initial steps: First, I will convene a national unity summit. This gathering will include activists, dissidents, and groups from across the ideological spectrum who agree to these three principles. It will not be limited just to political groups, but business leaders, professionals, experts, and other groups with influence across Iranian society. This summit’s objective will be to agree on a road map for democratic transition and reconstruction. Second, in parallel to the democratic process, I am developing an economic plan to rebuild Iran. We have already launched the Iran Prosperity Project, a comprehensive plan for the economic reconstruction and social stabilization of our country in three phases. The emergency phase or the first 4 to 6 months; the establishment phase of 18 to 24 months, and the normalization phase, which is long-term.
</blockquote>
“Imagine this new Iran: a free and democratic Iran, living at peace with our neighbors, an engine of growth and opportunity in the region, a beacon of culture, innovation, and pride in the world. It is within our reach,” he declared. “We are a proud, ancient, resilient people. The task before us Iranians today  is no less than the ones faced by the great leaders, the great unifiers, the great builders of our history, like Cyrus the Great. As we embark on the final steps of this path to national revival, to liberation, to peace, we continue to be inspired by him. &#8230; This is our moment. I am with you. Let us build this Iran together.”
The full text of the speech is below:
<blockquote>
My fellow compatriots: Our beloved Iran has been dragged into a devastating conflict, the architect of which is no other than Ali Khamenei and his corrupt destructive faction. He has driven our nation’s economy to the brink of collapse, plundered our national infrastructure and resources, squandered the nation’s wealth on developing nuclear weapons, shattered Iran’s security, and stolen the sovereignty of the Iranian people.
This regime is defeated, teetering on the edge of collapse. and must not be allowed to continue. The time has come to end this reign and begin a new era for Iran. This is a new dawn for Iran‘s lion and sun.
Ladies and gentlemen, over the past few days I have spoken with people across Iran from every walk of life; an officer in the Armed Forces; a mother fleeing Tehran; a factory worker from Tabriz; a young woman activist for the Women, Life, Freedom Movement. These voices represent a nation embattled but resilient that is not asking for his freedom; it is fighting for it.
From the 1999 student protests to the Green Movement to the 2017 Dey and 2019 Aban  uprisings,  thousands of Iranians have given their lives in the fight for Iran‘s liberation. Today, millions of my brave compatriots continue the fight.
One of their stories moved me deeply: In September 2022 Javad Heydari was murdered, protesting the Islamic republic’s killing of Mahsa Amini. His sister has continued his fight. She’s one of the hundreds of activists the regime has arrested and harassed in recent days. When security forces raided her home, she cried out, “Oh God, where shall we go? Where shall we go to flee from your tyranny?” One by one her neighbors began to respond to her: “We’re not going anywhere. They (meaning the regime)are the ones who’ve got to go.”
These words echo in my heart and should echo in every corner of power around the world. Today it is clearer than ever. The Islamic Republic is collapsing. Credible reports indicate that Ali Khamenei’s family and the family of senior officials are making preparations to flee Iran. The regime is on its last legs in towns and cities across the country. The military is fractured. The people are united; the foundations of this 46-year tyranny are shaking.
This is our Berlin Wall moment.
But like all moments of great change, it comes fraught with danger. We stand at a crossroads. One road leads to bloodshed and chaos; the other, a peaceful and democratic transition. The difference in these two roads depends on one factor and one factor alone: whether the current regime in Iran is allowed to survive. If the West throws the regime a lifeline. there will be more bloodshed and chaos because this regime will not submit or surrender after it has been humiliated. It will lash out.
As long as it is in power, no country and no people are safe, whether on the streets of Washington, Paris, Jerusalem, Riyadh, or Tehran. There’s only one way to achieve peace: a secular, democratic, Iran.
I am here today to submit myself to my compatriots to lead them down this road of peace and democratic transition. I do not seek political power, but rather to help our great nation navigate through this critical hour toward stability, freedom and justice.
To the people of Iran: I see your courage. I feel your pain. I know you are suffering. I know many of you are afraid for your loved ones, your children, your future. So I speak to you with a heavy heart. I worked for years, for decades, so that the scourge of war would never reach the borders of our land. Seeing the images of the people of Tehran forced to flee our beautiful capital, the explosions in Esfahan; the fires along the Persian Gulf; all fill me with pain.
But more than pain, I am filled with anger because this war is the result of the selfishness, hatred and terror of one man: Ali Khamenei. While he directs this war from the safety of his hidden bunker, he uses our people as human shields.
It is time to end the suffering. So today, I have a direct message for Ali Khamenei: Step down.  And if you do, you will receive a fair trial and due process of law, which is more than you have ever given any Iranian.
To other senior regime officials, those of you whose who hands are soiled with the blood of the Iranian people, you too will have to face justice, but we will not repeat the mistakes in other failed transitions.
To those who are loyal to the Iranian nation and not the Islamic Republic, there is a future for you in a democratic Iran — if you join the people now. The choice is yours to make. I know these officers, these soldiers, these brave men exist because they are reaching out to me and telling me they want to be part of this national salvation. But now greater coordination is needed.
So, to that end, today I am announcing that I am establishing a formal channel for military security and police personnel to reach out directly to me, my team, and our expanding operation. This is a secure platform to efficiently manage the growing volume of inbound communications and requests from those breaking with the regime and seeking to join our movement.
For those patriotic members of our own forces: The time is now to join the nation. If you do, I will make sure your service to Iran is not forgotten and is celebrated. To the international community: Now is the moment to stand with the Iranian people. Do not repeat the mistakes of the past. Do not throw this regime a lifeline. You are right to be concerned about stopping nuclear weapons and securing regional stability. Only a democratic transition in Iran can ensure these goals are achieved and are lasting. Take, for example, the destruction of Natanz, Esfahan, and Fordow enrichment facilities. Yes, this has diminished the regime’s domestic nuclear enrichment, but it does not diminish the regime’s intent to acquire and use nuclear weapons. The regime, enraged and emboldened, will be seeking revenge, and can, it can nuclear weapons from other rogue regimes like North Korea.
The destruction of the regime’s nuclear facilities alone will not deliver peace, but the path I offer can. So work with us to ensure a peaceful transition. Now is not the time for hesitation. Now is the time for principled action from each of us.
46 years ago when my late father and our family were forced to leave Iran,  I took an oath to God and my country: I would not turn my back on Iran or the Iranian people. Every day since I have dedicated my life to my compatriots, and today, I am here to put myself at their service. I am stepping forward to lead this national transition, not out of personal interest, but as a servant of the Iranian people. I have a clear plan for transition and national renewal. Our transition and future democracy will be based on these three core principles: Iran’s territorial integrity, individual liberties and equality of all citizens; separation of religion and state. The final form of this future democracy we seek will be for the Iranian people to decide in a national referendum. What I offer is not just a vision for the future of our country, but a plan to execute a peaceful orderly transition.
To achieve that, today I am announcing the following initial steps: First, I will convene a national unity summit. This gathering will include activists, dissidents, and groups from across the ideological spectrum who agree to these three principles. It will not be limited just to political groups, but business leaders, professionals, experts, and other groups with influence across Iranian society. This summit’s objective will be to agree on a road map for democratic transition and reconstruction. Second, in parallel to the democratic process, I am developing an economic plan to rebuild Iran. We have already launched the Iran Prosperity Project, a comprehensive plan for the economic reconstruction and social stabilization of our country in three phases. The emergency phase or the first 4 to 6 months; the establishment phase of 18 to 24 months, and the normalization phase, which is long-term.
In the coming days, my team of experts will publish the plans for the first hundred days after the collapse of the Islamic Republic based on this work. We are bringing together some of the world‘s greatest investors, builders, entrepreneurs, and experts who care about Iran, and see its immense potential. They stand ready to put in the expertise, the talent, and the capital to rebuild our nation and turn it into one of the world‘s most attractive markets. Imagine this new Iran: a free and democratic Iran, living at peace with our neighbors, an engine of growth and opportunity in the region, a beacon of culture, innovation, and pride in the world. It is within our reach.
We are a proud, ancient, resilient people. The task before us Iranians today  is no less than the ones faced by the great leaders, the great unifiers, the great builders of our history, like Cyrus the Great. As we embark on the final steps of this path to national revival, to liberation, to peace, we continue to be inspired by him.
To my compatriots: This is our moment. I am with you. Let us build this Iran together. Thank you.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EvcETEWoTvg?si=nh7Hl74C4rvBnJG9&amp;start=799" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></blockquote>

FRANCE-IRAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT

‘This Is Our Berlin Wall Moment’: Crown Prince Of Iran Calls For Islamic Regime To Step Down

Ali Khamenei

Iran

Reza Pahlavi

Once again, the Islamic Republic of Iran is drawing the United States into talks through the Sultanate of Oman. Some Western officials and analysts frame this as an <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-us-start-talks-oman-under-shadow-regional-conflict-2025-04-12/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opportunity</a> for de-escalation, but the evidence suggests otherwise. The regime’s decision to engage is a tactical maneuver aimed at delaying pressure, repositioning itself diplomatically, and benefiting from potential external shifts. If not met with firm containment, this round of diplomacy will mirror past failures.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iran’s</a> current position is fragile. The <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/06/us-will-collapse-irans-economy-by-shutting-down-its-oil-industry-treasury-secretary-says.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economy</a> is deteriorating rapidly, with persistent inflation and currency depreciation undermining basic economic stability. Domestically, the regime continues to face discontent that, while suppressed by force, has not been resolved through legitimacy. 
Regionally, its power projection has eroded. Hamas has been severely degraded, Hezbollah has suffered significant military setbacks, and Iran’s network of militias faces growing pressure from Israel and Western-aligned actors. The regime is seeking time for political dynamics in Washington to shift, for global energy markets to realign, and for Persian Gulf partners to return focus to short-term economic stabilization over long-term isolation strategies. None of this signals readiness to change course — it signals a regime buying time, again.
Engagement with Iran does not support the Iranian people. Every round of diplomacy has ended with the IRGC stronger, dissidents more isolated, and Tehran more defiant. Historically, sanctions relief and renewed <a href="https://www.meforum.org/mef-observer/how-the-iranian-regime-seeks-to-build-its-power-upon-american-naivete" target="_blank" rel="noopener">diplomatic engagement</a> have bolstered the regime’s internal security networks. Resources gained through these openings are funneled to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), intelligence services, and patronage systems that reinforce regime control. The October 7 massacre was the price of appeasement. Billions flowed to Iran under Biden — and blood flowed in Israel.
The coalition pushing for a deal does not have American interests in mind. China and Russia want breathing room for their ally. The Europeans want to claim progress ahead of their own elections. And some in the Persian Gulf would rather appease Tehran than risk direct confrontation. 
<div id="attachment_911379" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-911379" class="size-large wp-image-911379" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210316600-864x576.jpg" alt="Italian police officers outside the entrance of the Omani embassy, in Rome, Italy, on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Iran and the US on Saturday began a second round of talks aimed at reaching a deal over Tehran's nuclear program, according to Iranian state television. Photographer: Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg via Getty Images" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210316600-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210316600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210316600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210316600.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Italian police officers outside the entrance of the Omani embassy, in Rome, Italy, on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Photographer: Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg via Getty Images</div>
President Donald Trump has an opportunity to break this cycle of failure. His administration must recognize that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is not a rational actor. He does not negotiate in good faith, he does not reform, and he does not seek peace. Like Hamas’s Yahya Sinwar, Khamenei sees both survival and martyrdom as victory — an outlook rooted in radical Islamist ideology that glorifies death over compromise. As Gaza burned, Sinwar sat gripping a stick, waiting for the drone that would kill him — convinced he had already won. Khamenei would do the same to Iran. He would rather watch cities collapse and millions suffer than compromise with the West. 
Some argue that if Tehran <a href="https://allisrael.com/is-the-libyan-disarmament-a-viable-model-for-iran-understanding-the-option-netanyahu-would-like-to-see" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dismantles</a> its nuclear program and allows missile inspections, a deal might be acceptable — similar to the Libya model. But that view misunderstands the nature of the Islamic Republic. Its nuclear ambitions are a symptom, not the root of the threat. The regime’s hostility toward the U.S. and Israel is ideological, rooted in its identity. That identity cannot be negotiated away. A deal now would prolong the regime’s survival and empower the institutions behind its repression and aggression. 
Tehran’s use of calibrated escalation further underscores the risks of engagement without parallel containment. In 2019, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/14/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-refineries-drone-attack.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regime</a> struck Saudi oil infrastructure expecting a restrained U.S. response. Israeli <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgr0yvrx4qpo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strikes</a> on IRGC-affiliated targets have been met with limited, symbolic responses rather than strategic confrontation. This behavior is consistent with a <a href="https://www.iiss.org/globalassets/media-library---content--migration/images/comment/analysis/2017/december/2-mcinnis2125.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doctrine</a> of calculated, limited escalation designed to generate leverage and delay decisive retaliation. It is not evidence of de-escalation.
While indirect negotiations may appear diplomatically useful, they allow Tehran to manipulate outcomes while avoiding direct commitments. Engagement becomes a form of enablement. The danger is not the act of negotiation itself, but the repetition of a failed process in which pressure is relieved while Tehran stabilizes, regroups, and continues regional destabilization.
To protect U.S. and allied interests, the correct response to the regime’s current posture is neither renewed engagement nor war, but the full activation of isolation mechanisms. This includes triggering the UN snapback sanctions mechanism under <a href="https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/sres81/BILLS-119sres81is.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNSCR 2231</a>, designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization at the <a href="https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-838780" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EU level</a>, freezing <a href="https://financialpost.com/pmn/us-imposes-sanctions-on-a-chinese-refinery-accused-of-buying-iranian-oil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">assets</a> linked to Chinese and Malaysian brokers facilitating regime oil exports, and exposing the logistical infrastructure that allows the IRGC to operate regionally. European banks and Persian Gulf financial institutions still transacting with regime-linked entities should face coordinated diplomatic and financial pressure. Isolation must be operational and enforced.
<div id="attachment_911393" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-911393" class="wp-image-911393 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209282209-864x576.jpg" alt="An Iranian driver sits in his vehicle, which is parked under an anti-U.S. mural in downtown Tehran, Iran, on April 12, 2025, during the day of the Iran-U.S. nuclear discussions. According to Iranian officials, indirect nuclear discussions between Iran and the United States begin in Muscat, Oman, on April 12. (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209282209-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209282209-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209282209-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209282209.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />An Iranian driver sits in his vehicle, which is parked under an anti-U.S. mural in downtown Tehran, Iran, on April 12, 2025, during the day of the Iran-U.S. nuclear discussions. (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</div>
In the likely event of further regime degradation, the United States and its allies must be prepared for a leadership vacuum. Any transition scenario must include support for figures with broad-based legitimacy, cross-generational appeal, and a clear public commitment to secular democratic governance. The <a href="https://www.meforum.org/mef-observer/the-u-s-must-engage-with-reza-pahlavi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">son of the late Shah</a> is uniquely positioned as a unifying figure with broad-based legitimacy and recognition required to facilitate a post-regime transition. He consistently advocates a referendum-based process to empower Iranians in determining their political future, explicitly refraining from promoting any particular system, including monarchy. His value lies in providing political continuity, grounded solely in his national stature and widespread public recognition during a potentially volatile transition period. During recent national celebrations — including Nowruz and Chaharshanbe Suri — <a href="https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-847541" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iranians</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUrz6uoeRXc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chanted</a> his name in cities across the country. These were not isolated incidents or orchestrated campaigns; they were widespread, public expressions of recognition. No other figure inside or outside Iran has generated this level of organic visibility. 
There are additional risks that must be managed. Steve Witkoff, appointed as special envoy by the Trump administration, currently leads the Iran talks. His extensive <a href="https://jewishinsider.com/2024/11/steve-witkoff-middle-east-envoy-real-estate-mogul-donald-trump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">business</a> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/25/us/politics/witkoff-trump-middle-east-envoy.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">connections</a> with investors in Persian Gulf states, notably Qatar and Saudi Arabia, raise legitimate concerns about regional influence over U.S. policy direction. Some regional partners could advocate for a &#8216;stability-focused&#8217; agreement that sustains a weakened yet intact Islamic Republic, rather than supporting a genuinely secular and democratic alternative beyond their sphere of influence. This scenario would replicate the strategic failures of the JCPOA, entrenching regime survival without accountability, and directly compromising U.S. and Israeli national security interests.
If negotiations stall, Tehran’s fallback is limited, survivable conflict. The regime has long embraced a strategy of controlled escalation — not to win wars, but to provoke just enough confrontation to shift global focus, fracture internal dissent, and reset its legitimacy. In its calculus, limited war is safer than isolation. That’s why containment must be decisive. If neither diplomacy nor confrontation offer the regime an exit, internal collapse becomes inevitable.
The current diplomatic track with Iran is not designed to prevent conflict or nuclear escalation. It is designed to create space for the regime to survive. That calculation must be reversed. The United States and its allies must pursue containment and isolation as the strategic baseline — not the fallback. That’s how you flip the script — and how you make Tehran fear American resolve again.
* * *
Dr. Aidin Panahi is an Iranian-American research professor, energy expert, and political activist. He is the cofounder of the “From Boston to Iran” initiative and his analyses on security and policy issues have appeared in outlets including The Jerusalem Post, Washington Times, Middle East Forum, Homeland Security Today, and Visegrád24. X: @Aidin_FreeIran 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Iran and US Begin Second Round of Mediated Nuclear Talks in Rome

A Tactical Trap. Why It’s Time To Flip The Script On Iran.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

China

Iran Nuclear Deal

Middle East

Nuclear Weapons

Oman

President Trump

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Steve Witkoff

Iran&#8217;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been in hiding for nearly a week after Israel killed Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Iranian-backed terrorist group, in an airstrike late last week.
Khamenei had tried repeatedly to get Nasrallah to flee Lebanon and come to Iran for weeks before he was killed, fearing that it was only a matter of time before Israel got to him, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/irans-khamenei-warned-nasrallah-israeli-plot-kill-him-sources-say-2024-10-02/">reported</a>.
The Iranian leader, who personally ordered the firing of nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel this week, has become deeply paranoid about Israeli infiltration throughout the Iranian government, military, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Khamenei authorized the missile attack on Israel after concluding, at the insistence of senior IRGC commanders, that it would be riskier to do nothing in response to Israel killing Nasrallah and Hamas terrorist leader Ismail Haniyeh inside of Iran over the summer.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726313279401000&amp;usg=AOvVaw115_qPFFEePDP86-Fvo-Vd">Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!</a>
Senior IRGC commander, Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan, who Khamenei sent to convince Nasrallah to come to Iran, was killed alongside Nasrallah in Israel&#8217;s airstrike on the deeply fortified bunker where they were hiding in Beirut.
The report said that Khamenei has remained &#8220;in a secure location inside Iran since Saturday&#8221; and has not left over fears that he is next on Israel&#8217;s list.
There has been a widespread collapse in trust inside Hezbollah, Iran, and between Iran and the various terrorist proxy groups that it oversees, the report said.
The paranoia has become so rampant that Iran has started to arrest members of the IRGC — the hardline ideological faction of Iran&#8217;s military — over suspicions that they are working for Israel.
Sources inside Iran&#8217;s government told the publication that &#8220;the trust that held everything together has disappeared&#8221; and that Khamenei &#8220;no longer trusts anyone.&#8221;

Election Day In Iran

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei In Hiding After Israeli Strikes: Report

Israel

Terrorism

World

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iranian</a> Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called emergency meetings late on Friday night after Israel launched a powerful airstrike targeting Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Iranian-backed terrorist group, at an underground compound Friday afternoon in Beirut.
Khamenei called the meeting of the Supreme National Security Council at his home compound, the first meeting since Israel killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.
Israeli intelligence agencies said in an initial assessment that they believe that Nasrallah was killed in the strike, but cautioned that confirmation was still needed. It is believed that several other top Hezbollah, as well as potentially officials with Iran&#8217;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were also killed in the attack.
The world&#8217;s leading state sponsor of terrorism also pushed for an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a group of 57 Islamic nations, in response to the attack.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/09/27/world/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-hamas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that while Iran responded to the strike by blustering in public statements, privately they were panicking over Hezbollah&#8217;s silence following the attack, believing that it was a sign of bad news. Reuters reported that Nasrallah was &#8220;unreachable&#8221; following the strike, according to sources close to him.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726313279401000&amp;usg=AOvVaw115_qPFFEePDP86-Fvo-Vd">Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!</a>
Iran&#8217;s Foreign Ministry claimed that the strikes were an &#8220;undeniable war crime&#8221; even though Hezbollah, at Nasrallah&#8217;s direction, has fired thousands of missiles, rockets, and drones in unprovoked attacks over the last year.
&#8220;Therefore, without a doubt, the U.S. regime is an accomplice to the Zionist regime and must be held accountable,&#8221; the statement claimed. &#8220;The continuation of the Zionist regime&#8217;s crimes against the people of Palestine and Lebanon clearly shows that the call for a ceasefire by the U.S. and some Western countries is a blatant deception aimed at buying time to allow the Zionist regime to continue its crimes against the people of Palestine and Lebanon.&#8221;

Khamenei request the support of Iranian parliament for President-elect of Iran, Pezeshkian

Iranian Supreme Leader Calls Emergency Meetings After Israeli Strike On Nasrallah

Global Politics

Hezbollah

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iranian</a> Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered a direct strike on Israel in retaliation for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-top-hamas-leader-ismail-haniyeh-killed-inside-iran?topStoryPosition=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh</a> inside of Iran on Tuesday night.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/31/world/middleeast/iran-orders-attack-israel.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that he gave the order at an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council that was held immediately after the country announced Haniyeh&#8217;s death.
“We see avenging his blood our duty,” Khamenei said, adding that there would be a &#8220;severe punishment&#8221; for his death.
Iran has blamed Israel for killing Haniyeh, who celebrated his organization&#8217;s unprecedented terrorist attack against Israel on October 7 and who had publicly called for more attacks.
The Iranian Mission to the United Nations said in a statement: &#8220;The response to an assassination will indeed be special operations—harder and intended to instill deep regret in the perpetrator.&#8221;
Khamenei&#8217;s order comes after Iran launched an unprecedented attack on Israel in April, firing hundreds of drones and missiles launched from inside Iran directly at Israel.
Senior U.S. officials <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/iran-targeted-major-civilian-areas-biden-admin-told-iran-attack-had-to-be-within-certain-limits-reports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at the time that Iran&#8217;s attacks were designed to cause mass casualties in major civilian areas and to damage infrastructure.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1712932862202000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0plT8RRdMy9XUpIhocnjQS">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
The U.S., Israel, and other nations in the region were able to thwart the attack as nearly all of the drones and missiles were shot down and the few that did strike Israel only caused minor damage.
Iranian officials told the Times that one option they are considering is a coordinated attack that would include using its terrorist proxy groups that are located throughout the region, including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
It has been public knowledge since late last year that Israel had <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-our-munich-israeli-intelligence-chief-vows-to-hunt-down-kill-hamas-officials-on-foreign-soil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vowed to hunt down and terminate</a> everyone involved in Hamas&#8217; October 7 attack, including the terrorist group&#8217;s leaders who live in foreign countries.
Haniyeh’s death comes after Israel <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/israel-kills-hezbollahs-most-senior-military-commander-after-terror-group-killed-12-children?topStoryPosition=4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killed</a> Hezbollah’s Fuad Shukr in Lebanon earlier in the day in response to an attack that Hezbollah launched last weekend that killed 12 children in northern Israel.
The IDF said that Shukr was Hezbollah’s “most senior military commander and the head of its Strategic Unit” and Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah’s “right-hand man” and was his “adviser for planning and directing wartime operations.”

Second round of Parliament and Assembly of Expert Elections in Iran

Iranian Leader Khamenei Orders Direct Attack On Israel After Hamas Leader Killed

Hamas

Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY) and Ilhan Omar (MN) are among a group of Democratic lawmakers calling on the Trump administration to end sanctions on Iran during the coronavirus pandemic.
&#8220;I led a letter with [Rep. Ocasio-Cortez] and [Sen. Bernie Sanders] demanding this Administration end sanctions against Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic,&#8221; Omar tweeted Tuesday. &#8220;These sanctions aren’t changing the behavior of the Iranian government, but directly punishing innocent civilians.&#8221;
Ocasio-Cortez also took to Twitter to publicize her role in pushing for the easing of sanctions on Iran by retweeted a post from the author of a report on the letter: &#8220;[Ocasio-Cortez], [Sanders], [Omar], and [Sen. Elizabeth Warren] &amp; co want to suspend sanctions on Iran that make it hard to import meds, PPE &amp; respirators despite one of the world&#8217;s biggest COVID-19 outbreaks and Trump&#8217;s claims of having made enough humanitarian concessions,&#8221; reads the tweet from Huffington Post foreign affairs reporter Akbar Shahid Ahmed.
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I led a letter with <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepAOC</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSanders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenSanders</a> demanding this Administration end sanctions against Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
These sanctions aren’t changing the behavior of the Iranian government, but directly punishing innocent civilians. <a href="https://t.co/odymQAN3cn">https://t.co/odymQAN3cn</a>
&mdash; Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ilhan/status/1245075397504573440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Exclu: <a href="https://twitter.com/AOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AOC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BernieSanders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BernieSanders</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IlhanMN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IlhanMN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ewarren?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ewarren</a> &amp; co want to suspend sanctions on Iran that make it hard to import meds, PPE &amp; respirators despite one of the world&#39;s biggest COVID-19 outbreaks and Trump&#39;s claims of having made enough humanitarian concessions.<a href="https://t.co/S42tATdyLX">https://t.co/S42tATdyLX</a>
&mdash; Akbar Shahid Ahmed (@AkbarSAhmed) <a href="https://twitter.com/AkbarSAhmed/status/1245035385153105927?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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As reported by the <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-sanctions-iran-coronavirus_n_5e831295c5b603fbdf490a1d">HuffPost</a> on Tuesday, Omar, Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders are among over two-dozen Democratic lawmakers who signed a letter sent to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin on Tuesday demanding the administration &#8220;suspend sweeping U.S. sanctions on Iran that are hindering the country’s response to its massive coronavirus outbreak.&#8221;
&#8220;Allowing this crisis to become more dire in Iran threatens significant harm not only to the people of Iran but also to people in the United States and around the world,&#8221; the letter reads.
&#8220;Our many disputes with the government of Iran or others should not stand in the way of actions that can materially help innocent people weather a pandemic,&#8221; the Democratic lawmakers assert.
As a precedent for such an action, the letter notes that President George W. Bush’s administration &#8220;eased sanctions&#8221; and &#8220;delivered aid&#8221; to Iran after the 2003 earthquake near Bam.
Among the sanctions relief they are demanding are &#8220;those that encompass major sectors of the Iranian economy, including those impacting civilian industries, Iran’s banking sector and exports of oil.&#8221; The easing of sanctions should last &#8220;for at least as long as health experts believe the crisis will continue,&#8221; the lawmakers insist.
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HuffPost cites some of the alarming COVID-19 statistics coming out of Iran, including more <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html">2,750 deaths</a> in connection to the virus and more than 40,000 infections.
Along with Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, and Sanders, former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA) signed the letter.
During the course of his presidency, Trump has withdrawn from the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal and ramped up pressure on Iran by placing increasingly punitive sanctions on the country, which is the world&#8217;s leading state sponsor of terrorism.
While HuffPost notes that the sanctions &#8220;restrict Iran’s ability to earn foreign currency by selling oil abroad and to trade with international firms, limiting its imports of medicine and materials it needs to produce drugs domestically,&#8221; and have damaged the country&#8217;s ability to gain access to specialized medical equipment, Iran&#8217;s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has turned down U.S. offers of aid.
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&#8220;The U.S. preserved loopholes for food and medical trade with Iran and acknowledged its need by offering aid, American officials have noted, but Iran’s Supreme Leader <a href="https://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2020/mar/23/khamenei-refuses-us-help-covid-19" data-ylk="subsec:paragraph;cpos:8;elm:context_link;itc:0" data-rapid-parsed="slk" data-rapid_p="8" data-v9y="1">rejected</a> the offer,&#8221; HuffPost reports. &#8220;Last month, Trump <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-swiss-formally-open-humanitarian-trade-channel-to-iran-11582846163" data-ylk="subsec:paragraph;cpos:8;elm:context_link;itc:0" data-rapid-parsed="slk" data-rapid_p="9" data-v9y="1">authorized</a> a new channel for humanitarian exports to the country that allows companies to seek approval for deals from the U.S. and Swiss governments without fear of incurring American penalties.&#8221;
Despite Trump opening the new channels, &#8220;producers of vital supplies are still nervous about fines, as American authorities continue to target violators of the sanctions and impose new ones, and are reluctant to deal with byzantine U.S. regulations that cover broad swathes of the Iranian economy, from banks to parts of the military,&#8221; HuffPost notes.
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Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-fauci-cautiously-offers-hope-rate-of-increase-seems-to-be-dropping-off">WATCH: Fauci Cautiously Offers Hope: Rate Of Increase Seems To Be Dropping Off</a>
</div>

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar Demand Trump End Sanctions On Iran During Coronavirus Crisis

Bernie Sanders

Donald Trump

Elizabeth Warren

Ilhan Omar

Mike Pompeo

Steve Mnuchin

In a rare appearance on Friday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, praised the country&#8217;s missile strike on a U.S. airbase earlier this month while bashing President Trump as an untrustworthy clown and accusing the U.S. of using Iran&#8217;s downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet, which Iran initially tried to cover up, as a distraction.
“The fact that Iran has the power to give such a slap to a world power shows the hand of God,” Khamenei said, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-khamenei/khamenei-says-irans-strikes-at-us-targets-show-hand-of-god-idUSKBN1ZG0O8">Reuters.</a>
“These American clowns who lie and say they are with the Iranian people should see who the Iranian people are,” said the Iranian leader.
Khameini went on to accuse the U.S. of trying to use Iran&#8217;s horrific downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 to shift international attention from the Trump-ordered strike that took out Iran&#8217;s top military leader, Qassem Soleimani, who Khameini claimed was &#8220;mourned&#8221; by &#8220;millions in Iran.&#8221;
&#8220;Khamenei told the crowd Friday that Trump is not to be trusted and only pretends to support the Iranian people,&#8221; <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/irans-supreme-leader-calls-trump-a-clown-praises-missile-attack">Fox News</a> reports. &#8220;He said Western countries are too weak to &#8216;bring Iranians to their knees.&#8217; He said Iran was willing to negotiate, but not with the U.S.&#8221;
Since Khamenei has not addressed Friday prayers in Tehran since 2012, one Middle East scholar told the Washington Post that his address is a &#8220;symbolically significant act.&#8221;
On January 8, the Iranian regime launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq at the Asad airbase in Anbar Province. The attack followed an airstrike in Baghdad ordered by President Trump that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who he described as one of the &#8220;worst terrorists in history and the father of the roadside bomb.&#8221;
Though no Americans or Iraqis were killed or wounded in the blast, a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-11-u-s-troops-treated-after-iran-missile-attack-cnn-politicizes-theres-more-to-the-story">recent report</a> shows that at least 11 U.S. troops were treated for injuries like concussions.
“No one was killed or wounded in the five barrages of multiple missiles that night, although several military personnel who were working were checked for concussions,” <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/13/world/middleeast/Iran-missile-attack-American-base.html">The New York Times</a> reported. “The absence of casualties seemed to be the result of luck and warnings.”
A spokesman for the U.S. military command in Baghdad also said: “As previously stated, while no U.S. service members were killed in the Jan. 8 Iranian attack on Al Asad Air base, several were treated for concussion symptoms from the blast and are still being assessed.”
Shortly after the missile strike, Iran shot down a Ukranian jetliner that killed 176 people, presumably mistaking the plane for a U.S. counter-attack. Khamenei referred to the tragedy as a &#8220;bitter accident&#8221; that Iranians mourned.
Meeting in London on Thursday, ministers from Afghanistan, Britain, Canada, Sweden and Ukraine – all of which lost citizens in the crash – demanded full-transparency from Iran during the downed-plane investigation as well as compensation.
&#8220;We are here to pursue closure, accountability, transparency and justice for the victims – Ukrainian, Swedish, Afghan, British, Canadian as well as Iranian, through a full complete and transparent international investigation,&#8221; said Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne. &#8220;In the wake of such a horrific tragedy there are many many questions. Families want answers, all of the countries assembled here today want answers, and the international community want answers. The world is waiting for those answers and we will not rest until we get them.&#8221;

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

In Rare Sermon, Iran Leader Praises Missile Attack, Accuses U.S. Of Using Plane Tragedy As Distraction

Qassem Soleimani

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi&#8217;s appearance on ABC News&#8217; &#8220;This Week&#8221; Sunday has sparked strong criticism after she was asked if she supports the growing uprising in Iran against the country&#8217;s oppressive regime following its showdown with President Trump.
After initially lying about the cause of the horrific crash of a Ukrainian passenger jet that took the lives of all 176 people on board, Iran finally <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-iran-admits-it-shot-down-passenger-plane-killing-176-people">admitted</a> late last week what the world suspected: they shot down the Ukrainian 737, claiming that the plane was accidentally targeted when it turned toward an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) military base the night the regime launched missiles at two Iraqi bases where U.S. troops were stationed.
Iran&#8217;s admission — which came after three days of Iran&#8217;s leaders accusing America of “propagating fallacies” about the crash as part of a “psychological operation” against the country — added more fuel to a growing uprising against the terror-sponsoring regime, Iranians taking to the streets, photos and video <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-iranian-protesters-refuse-to-walk-on-u-s-israel-flags-attack-soleimani-posters">showing</a> protesters &#8220;attacking images of former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani while also refusing to walk on American and Israeli flags.&#8221; Over the weekend, the Iranian government <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/iran-opens-fire-on-demonstrators-protesters-chant-our-enemy-is-here-they-lie-to-us-that-its-america">responded</a> by firing “tear gas, rubber bullets and eventually live ammunition to disperse demonstrators.”
Amid the reports, former Bill Clinton adviser George Stephanopoulous asked Pelosi on Sunday if she supports the Iranian protesters and thinks it would be a &#8220;good thing&#8221; if the theocratic regime were overthrown. The Democratic leader responded by initially refusing to give a straight answer. Instead, the California Democrat questioned the unity of the protests and downplayed the role Iran&#8217;s tragic downing of the passenger jet has played in the growing movement.
&#8220;We&#8217;re seeing now demonstrations in the streets of Iran against the regime,&#8221; Stephanopoulos said. &#8220;Do you support those protesters? And would it be a good thing if they brought the regime down?&#8221;
&#8220;Well, the protesters are protesting, as I understand it, this brand of protesters, about the fact that that plane went down. And many students were on that plane,&#8221; she said. &#8220;These are largely students in the street.&#8221;
&#8220;I think the Iranians should have not had commercial flights going off there,&#8221; she said, in an obvious assertion before being interrupted by Stephanopoulos.
&#8220;They&#8217;re calling out the regime for lying. They&#8217;re saying &#8216;Death to Khamenei,&#8217; as well,&#8221; he stressed, referencing Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
&#8220;Well whatever it is,&#8221; said Pelosi, dismissively. &#8220;But the fact is this: There were protesters in the street before against the regime. After the taking out of Soleimani, there were protesters in the street joined together, as you know, against us. It wasn&#8217;t good.&#8221;
Having tried to make Trump the bad guy in the situation, Pelosi acknowledged Iran&#8217;s fault in shooting down the passenger plane. &#8220;Taking down this plan is a terrible, terrible tragedy,&#8221; she said, &#8220;and they should be held accountable for letting commercial flights go at a time that was so dangerous.&#8221;
The Democratic leader then emphasized what was apparently her key point. &#8220;But there are different reasons why people are in the street,&#8221; she said.
Pelosi&#8217;s problematic response to Stephanopoulous&#8217;s straightforward question — which appeared to be motivated by the speaker&#8217;s focus on making sure the Trump administration doesn&#8217;t get any credit for the Iranian people turning against the terror-sponsoring regime — earned the attention of RNC Research, which posted a clip of the exchange. &#8220;Pelosi dismisses protests in Iran against regime, &#8216;different reasons why people are in the street,'&#8221; RNC Research captioned the video.
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Pelosi dismisses protests in Iran against regime, &quot;different reasons why people are in the street&quot;<a href="https://t.co/weKuQ6fSlO">https://t.co/weKuQ6fSlO</a> <a href="https://t.co/q9YwCUZrQ9">pic.twitter.com/q9YwCUZrQ9</a>
&mdash; RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1216378286592360453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The clip has since made the rounds online, with many others, particularly on the right, similarly <a href="https://twitchy.com/samj-3930/2020/01/13/nancy-pelosis-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-2020-gets-worse-following-her-iranprotests2020-comments-on-this-week/">blasting</a> the speaker for her response.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-highlights-blowback-to-pelosis-iran-protest-comments-sums-up-dems-media-strategy">Trump Highlights Blowback To Pelosi’s Iran Protest Comments, Sums Up Dems, Media Strategy</a>

Nancy Pelosi

WATCH: Pelosi Asked ‘Would It Be A Good Thing’ If Iranian Protesters Brought Down Regime After Showdown With Trump; Gets Ripped For Response

Trump Administration

President Trump addressed the nation Wednesday morning following ballistic missile strikes by Iran Tuesday targeting two Iraqi bases where U.S. and coalition troops are stationed. No American or Iraqi lives were lost in the attack, Trump announced, and Iran appears to be &#8220;standing down.&#8221; Trump also announced that the U.S. will &#8220;immediately&#8221; impose new sanctions on Iran.
&#8220;As long as I am president of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon,&#8221; Trump began.
&#8220;I am pleased to inform you, the American people should be extremely grateful and happy: No Americans were harmed in last night&#8217;s attack by the Iranian regime,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;We suffered no casualties, all of our soldiers are safe, and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases.&#8221;
&#8220;Our great American forces are prepared for anything,&#8221; he underscored.
&#8220;Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned, and a very good thing for the world,&#8221; said the president.
&#8220;No American or Iraqi lives were lost because of the precautions taken, the dispersal of forces, and an early warning system that worked very well,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I salute the incredible skill and courage of America&#8217;s men and women in uniform.&#8221;
&#8220;For far too long, all the way back to 1979, to be exact, nations have tolerated Iran&#8217;s destructive and destabilizing behavior in the Middle East. Those days are over,&#8221; Trump declared. &#8220;Iran has been the leading state sponsor of terrorism, and their pursuit of nuclear weapons threatens the civilized world. We will never let that happen.&#8221;
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LIVE: President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> Addresses the Nation <a href="https://t.co/vRH9gVAD0N">https://t.co/vRH9gVAD0N</a>
&mdash; The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse45/status/1214946620053184513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Last week, we took decisive action to stop a ruthless terrorist from threatening American lives,&#8221; Trump explained in the address. &#8220;At my direction the United States Military eliminated the world&#8217;s top terrorist, Qassem Soleimani. As the head of the Quds Force, Soleimani was personally responsible for some of the absolutely worst atrocities. He trained terrorist armies, including Hezbollah, launching terrorist strikes against civilian targets. He fueled bloody civil wars all across the region. He viciously wounded and murdered thousands of U.S. troops, including the planting of roadside bombs that maim and dismember their victims. Soleimani directed the recent attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq that badly wounded four service members and killed one American, and he orchestrated the violent assault on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. In recent days, he was planning new attacks on American targets, but we stopped him.&#8221;
The public address follows Trump&#8217;s statement late Tuesday night announcing that early casualty and damage reports indicated that no American military personnel were injured in the strikes.
As Trump stated in his remarks Wednesday, Iran has signaled that it hopes to de-escalate the situation, Iran&#8217;s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif issuing a statement late Tuesday stating that Iran does &#8220;not seek escalation or war&#8221; and suggesting that the missile attack on the two Iraqi bases was its &#8220;proportionate&#8221; response to the U.S. killing Iran&#8217;s top military leader, General Qassem Soleimani.
&#8220;Iran took &amp; concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens &amp; senior officials were launched,&#8221; Zarif <a href="https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/1214736614217469953?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tweeted</a> after the attack Tuesday night. &#8220;We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression.&#8221;
A statement posted on social media later by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, however, suggested that Iran will seek other ways than further immediate military operations to get its revenge for Soleimani&#8217;s death. The U.S. was &#8220;slapped last night, but such military actions are not enough,&#8221; Khameini <a href="https://twitter.com/khamenei_ir/status/1214833653022416896?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tweeted</a> early Wednesday. &#8220;The corruptive presence of the US in the region of West Asia must be stopped.&#8221;

WATCH: Trump Addresses Nation After Attack: No Lives Lost; Iran ‘Appears To Be Standing Down’

Iran&#8217;s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) began its &#8220;fierce revenge&#8221; for the killing of its notorious general, Qassem Soleimani, by launching over a dozen ballistic missiles Tuesday at two military bases in Iraq where U.S troops are stationed. American officials say there were no reported casualties and the damage to the bases was minimal. Now Iran&#8217;s foreign minister is signaling that the country hopes for de-escalation, though Iran&#8217;s supreme leader is sending another message: the missile strikes are &#8220;not enough.&#8221;
&#8220;The fierce revenge by the Revolutionary Guards has begun,&#8221; the IRGC, a U.S.-designated terror organization, said in a statement Tuesday via a Telegram messaging app, as reported by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/07/world/middleeast/iran-fires-missiles-us.html">The New York Times</a>.
In a <a href="https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2052103/dod-statement-on-iranian-ballistic-missile-attacks-in-iraq/">statement</a> issued shortly after the attacks, the Pentagon provided some details on Iran&#8217;s strikes. &#8220;At approximately 5:30 p.m. (EST) on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq,&#8221; the Defense Department announced. &#8220;It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil.&#8221;
According to Iraqi military officials, Iran fired a total of 22 missiles at two of the military bases in Iraq where U.S. personnel are stationed, the Times reported.
In its initial statement, the Pentagon underscored that the U.S. had taken &#8220;appropriate measures&#8221; to safeguard against just such an attack. &#8220;In recent days and in response to Iranian threats and actions, the Department of Defense has taken all appropriate measures to safeguard our personnel and partners,&#8221; the statement notes. &#8220;These bases have been on high alert due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces and interests in the region.&#8221;
The measures taken to protect U.S. troops against attack appears to have been successful. &#8220;United States officials initially said there were no immediate indications of American casualties, and senior Iraqi officials later said that there were no American or Iraqi casualties in the strikes,&#8221; the Times reports.
With reports indicating that the damage from the IRCG&#8217;s &#8220;fierce revenge&#8221; was minimal, the question is what will Iran do next. As highlighted by Washington Examiner&#8217;s <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/what-next-awaiting-trumps-response-to-iranian-missile-attack-on-us-bases-in-iraq">Jamie McIntyre</a>, Iran&#8217;s foreign minister has strongly signaled that the country is seeking de-escalation.
&#8220;Iran took &amp; concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens &amp; senior officials were launched,&#8221; Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif <a href="https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/1214736614217469953?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tweeted</a> after the attack Tuesday night. &#8220;We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression.&#8221;
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Iran took &amp; concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens &amp; senior officials were launched.
We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression.
&mdash; Javad Zarif (@JZarif) <a href="https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/1214736614217469953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has been engaged in bombastic rhetoric in recent days and was personally close with Soleimani, issued his own statement following the attacks that took a different tact than Zarif&#8217;s. Such strikes, Khamenei said in a tweet posted hours after Zarif&#8217;s statement, are &#8220;not enough,&#8221; suggesting that while Iran may not take further immediate military action, it will resort to other means to get its &#8220;fierce revenge&#8221; on the U.S.
The U.S. was &#8220;slapped last night, but such military actions are not enough,&#8221; Khameini <a href="https://twitter.com/khamenei_ir/status/1214833653022416896?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tweeted</a> early Wednesday. &#8220;The corruptive presence of the US in the region of West Asia must be stopped.&#8221;
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They were slapped last night, but such military actions are not enough. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlAssadBase?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AlAssadBase</a>
&mdash; Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) <a href="https://twitter.com/khamenei_ir/status/1214833653022416896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-journalist-warns-that-iran-firing-missiles-at-u-s-troops-is-not-how-theyll-retaliate">Top Journalist Warns That Iran Firing Missiles At U.S. Troops Is Not How They’ll Retaliate</a>

IRAN-IRAQ-US-UNREST

Iran’s Foreign Minister: ‘We Do Not Seek Escalation Or War’; Iran’s Supreme Leader: Military Actions ‘Not Enough’

Iraq

At the funeral of General Qassem Soleimani on Monday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei openly cried over the death of his top military leader.
Soleimani – head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization – was killed early Friday along with another key military leader, in a strategic airstrike ordered by President Trump. The aggressive move sent shockwaves throughout the region and has been followed by threats from Iran and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-u-s-military-kills-more-top-iranian-backed-terrorist-leaders-in-airstrikes-report-says">more U.S. strikes</a> targeting pro-Iran assets.
At Soleimani&#8217;s state-organized funeral Monday, Khamenei, who worked closely with the general for decades, uttered an emotional prayer.
&#8220;Oh Allah, they are in need of your mercy, and you are exalted above punishing your servants,&#8221; said Khamenei, standing over Soleimani&#8217;s casket and surrounded by Iranian military and political figures.
&#8220;Khamenei’s voice cracked under the weight of the moment during a funeral procession unlike any in Iran’s recent history,&#8221; <a href="https://apnews.com/14792cc1d7f73ffec8f8c425b73b44fb">The Associated Press</a> reports.
&#8220;The funeral showcased the depth of the bond Khamenei had with the slain general and gave insight into how Soleimani’s death is being felt personally by the supreme leader. It could also impact how Khamenei responds to the United States,&#8221; AP underscores.
In addition to breaking down during the ceremony, Khamenei demonstrated his personal connection with the slain general by making &#8220;a rare visit to Soleimani’s home the day he was killed to offer condolences to his grieving widow and grown children,&#8221;AP notes.
In a series of tweets Friday, Khameini celebrated Soleimani’s &#8220;martyrdom&#8221; and vowed &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/severe-revenge-irans-supreme-leader-top-officials-vow-attacks-on-u-s">severe revenge</a>&#8221; on &#8220;the criminals&#8221; responsible for his death.
Soleimani was targeted just a few days after the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad by a group of pro-Iran militants. In a statement issued after the strike that took out Soleimani, the U.S. Department of Defense noted that the embassy attack was &#8220;approved&#8221; by Soleimani and that he was &#8220;actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.&#8221;
&#8220;General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more,&#8221; the Defense Department stated in the release issued soon after the attack. &#8220;He had orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the last several months – including the attack on December 27th – culminating in the death and wounding of additional American and Iraqi personnel. General Soleimani also approved the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad that took place this week.&#8221;
The U.S. State Department announced in April 2019 that Soleimani was responsible for military operations that resulted in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/state-dept-iranian-general-killed-in-u-s-strike-responsible-for-17-of-american-deaths-in-iraq">17 percent</a> of the deaths of U.S. soldiers during the Iraq War (2003-2011). Along with overseeing all Iranian and Iran-supported operations against the U.S. and Coalition troops during the war, Soleimani trained Iraqi militants how to &#8220;manufacture and use especially deadly roadside bombs against U.S. troops after the invasion of Iraq,&#8221; as reported by <a href="https://apnews.com/5597ff0f046a67805cc233d5933a53ed">The Associated Press</a>.
Trump has strongly defended his decision to take out Soleimani, pointing to his murderous past and the continued threat he posed to Americans.
&#8220;General Qassem Soleimani has killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans over an extended period of time, and was plotting to kill many more…but got caught!” Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-lays-out-case-for-killing-iranian-general-taunts-tehran">tweeted</a> Friday morning. &#8220;He was directly and indirectly responsible for the death of millions of people, including the recent large number of PROTESTERS killed in Iran itself.&#8221;
&#8220;While Iran will never be able to properly admit it, Soleimani was both hated and feared within the country,&#8221; Trump continued. &#8220;They are not nearly as saddened as the leaders will let the outside world believe. He should have been taken out many years ago!&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michael-moore-issues-personal-appeal-to-iran-gets-pummeled-online">Michael Moore Issues ‘Personal Appeal’ To Iran, Gets Pummeled</a>

It’s ‘Personal’: Iranian Supreme Leader Cries Over Trump Killing Soleimani

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

In 1980, former president Richard Nixon wrote a book titled The Real War detailing how the United States was losing ground to the Soviet Union on the world stage. One of his central concerns was the effects of the then recent fall of the Shah of Iran. 
Though Leftists (and Ron Paul-<a href="http://rubinreports.blogspot.com/2012/01/response-to-ron-paul-did-us-policy-make.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">types</a>) would never admit it, there was a significant threat of Soviet expansion into Iran and toward the Persian Gulf in the post-war period, which was thwarted only thanks to the Shah. Nixon witnesses this as vice-president in the 1950s, and by the time he became president the shah&#8217;s value as an ally to the United States had been cemented. 
Nixon gave a short recounting of the benefits of our alliance with the Shah that he witnessed during his term: 
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After the British withdrew in 1971 Iran had taken their place as the military power that guaranteed stability in the Gulf. On the eve of the British withdrawal Iranian forces occupied the strategically located islands of Abu Musa and Tumbs overlooking the Straits of Hormuz. In 1973 the Shah sent Iranian troops to Oman&#8217;s Dhofar Province, where Marxist guerrillas supplied by neighboring South Yemen were threatening the Sultan of Oman&#8217;s regime. The Shah ordered work begun on a naval base at Chah Bahar in Iranian Baluchistan to guard the entrance to the Straits of Hormuz. 
In addition to refusing to participate in the Arab oil embargo of 1967 and of 1973, the Shah had continued to recognize Israel, provided oil for our Mediterranean Fleet, and kept Iraq from playing any significant role in the Yom Kippur War by moving troops to the Iran-Iraq border and by giving covert support to rebellious Kurdish forces, thus tying down the Iraqi Army. During that war his was the only country in the area to prohibit Soviet overflights; he also rushed oil to an American carrier force in the Indian Ocean to keep it in operation. When our allies were asked to send arms to South Vietnam before the Paris accords forbade it, the Shah stripped himself of F-5&#8217;s to accommodate us.
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With the fall of the Shah, all of those advantages were reversed. Additionally, 1980 was still too early for many to predict the catastrophe that the reemergence of militant Islam would have in the decades to come, so we in hindsight see what Nixon could not.
It was a disaster that could have been avoided if we would have stood strong with our ally. It is a lesson we should not soon forget.

MITSOTAKIS: When Iran Was Our Ally

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