Last Friday, Israel launched a massive air strike on Iran, inspiring Tehran to retaliate with the missile barrage.
In a video message that day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Iranian people that with the aim of failing Israel’s nuclear program, “We are also cleaning the path for you to achieve your freedom”.
Some sections of Iran’s scattered opposition have held rallies behind Netanyahu’s call. Others mistrust their purpose.
There are no official opposition groups inside Iran, where the authorities have long exposed to dissatisfaction, including large -scale execution and imprisonment wave in the 1980s.
Since then, most of the opposition groups have operated from abroad, including two most organized groups: Iran’s last Shah’s son, supporters of Reza Pahlavi, a supporter, and exiled Mojahideen-e-Khalak Organization (MEK/MKO).
Due to officials restricting access to internet and social media, it has become difficult for journalists to contact people inside Iran.
We have managed to talk to many young Iranians who oppose governance – and have opposed it in the past – in recent times, though.
Their names have been changed for their safety as Iranian officials have often imprisoned opponents in an attempt to suppress dissatisfaction.
26 -year -old Tara told the BBC that when the Israel warns to overtake the attacks, the authorities stopped using the Internet “so that people do not know and the toll of death would increase”.
Outposts and toll stations are also installed, saying, “deliberately” traffic authorities accusing them “encourages people to live in target areas”.
“It is absurd to talk about patriotism, unity, and enemy standing. The enemy has been slowly killing us for decades. The enemy is Islamic Republic!”
The Israeli army is issuing withdrawal warns through Telegram and X, which are banned in Iran. Coupled with limited internet access, it means that it is difficult for Iranians to see warnings.
27 -year -old Sima tells us that she no longer cares about it.
“I wish, Israel would get work as soon as possible. I am tired. Although I am still not a fan of Israel or what it is doing, I hope I have finished what they have started.
“I wishful thinking, I know. But I want them to get rid of the world of danger of IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps], [Ayatollah Ali] Silence and Ayatollah as a whole. ,
Khameni, the supreme leader of Iran, is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, including the powerful IRGC, which is assigned to defend the Islamic system and to maintain Iran’s ballistic missiles. The recent Israeli strike has killed several senior IRGC figures, including its commander Hosain Salute.
Some people we used to talk to were even more tremendous in support of Israel’s attacks.
Amir, 23, said that he supported him “100%”. Asked that he said that he believes that no one else was ready to take rule.
“Not a United Nations, not Europe, not us. We tried, remember? And they killed us on the streets. I am happy when people who crushed our lives finally tasted fear. We are so worth it.”
Aamir Masha is referring to widespread protests in Iran after Amini’s death. In 2022, 22 -year -old died in police custody, after being arrested for violating the rules required for women to allegedly wear headscarf.
Norway -based Iran Human Rights Group said 537 protesters were killed by state security forces during unrest. The official line of the government is that “the security forces worked responsibly”, blaming violent protesters or deaths on foreign agitators.
The rally of protests cried – “Women, Jeevan, Freedom” – was repeated by Netanyahu in both English and Persian on Friday, as he urged Irani to “stand and listen to his voices”.
Iran has not officially responded to the call of the Israeli Prime Minister, but some fanatics and media figures made fun of the comment and dismissed. Meanwhile, authorities have warned against Israel and US authorities against sharing campaigns and statements.
Some opponents of the Islamic Republic suspect Netanyahu’s intentions.
“I participated in protests [in 2022] Because I expected a change in governance then. I do not yet see how the rule could be uprooted in this struggle without Iran, the process was destroyed, “the 25 -year -old worker, who was briefly arrested during the protest, said.
He said, “Israel is killing common people as well. At some point, people will start to favor the Islamic Republic.”
The 26 -year -old Dariya said: “I think people are not coming to protest, this is already a clear response” on Netanyahu’s call.
“I will not even go even when Israel bombed my house. Netanyahu is hidden behind the Iranian nationalist slogans and shows that it is helping the Iranians to reach freedom, while it is targeting residential areas. The country’s reconstruction is only for years.”
22 -year -old Arezou said that she does not know what to think.
“I hate governance, and I hate what it has been with us. But when I see the bomb falling, I think about my grandmother, my little cousin. And I have seen what Netanyahu did for Gaza – do you really think he care about Iranians? [Israeli] Politics, “he said.
“I think I have to choose between two evils, and I can’t. I just want my people safe. I want to breathe without any fear.”
27 -year -old Meena said: “I want this regime to be more than anything – but not like this. Not more bombs, more death.”
“Israel is not our savior. When innocent people die, it is not a step towards freedom, it is another form of injustice. I do not want to trade a kind of terror for another. I am against this rule and against this war. We are out of it better.”
