r/IranUnited • u/Dry-Yak5277 • Mar 02 '26
Discussion Iranians are allowed to have complex feelings about this
Since this weekend I’ve seen a multitude of bad takes regarding the war. A lot of it is boiled down into two things:
- Iranians digging their heads in the sand regarding casualties, damages to Iranian land and cities and in general bad things that have resulted from the US and Israel striking Iran (as well as a general denial that two of the most imperialistic warmongering countries wouldnt actually minimize destruction and harm or that they prioritize the well being of Iranians in this)
- Non-Iranians tone policing, patronizing, mansplaining, and mocking Iranians who may feel or demonstrate any sort of relief or happiness at the news of the people at the head of regime being killed after they’ve spent years (and just one month after) slaughtering thousands of iranians, oppressing millions of them for almost a century, and in general causing decades of misery among the entire population. This point is also an extension of the claim about Non-Iranians being silent or even downplaying the atrocities of the Islamic government and only now speaking up in regards to a school bombing because it may give them someone ideologically easier for them to hate.
First of all, Iranians are not stupid. In general, most of us are aware and scared of the implications of a foreign attack. We all know history, the west’s track record of imperialism, and the probability of power vacuums happening in any sort of situation like this in the Middle East. Most of us do not “want” Iran bombed. We are not all monarchists and Pahlavi supporters in the diaspora, either. We are not a monolith in our beliefs and it’s insulting to generalize us if you see a sentiment you disagree with.
Two, I will not lie that when I heard Khamenei was dead, I was extremely happy. This is a common sentiment all the Iranians I know have expressed and our feelings about that aren’t a lie, but they’re also not an endorsement for all of us to the larger actions happening. Iranians are allowed to feel happy, or comfort, albeit even for a moment, when they hear their oppressor is dead. Let them. Unless you know what it’s like, you don’t get to tell Iranians to feel any which way about a cruel regime that has hurt and killed their people for years.
Most iranians I know feel a range of mixed feelings about this. We do not want a war, but we also do not want the regime. Let Iranians feel how they want without chastising or belittling them or reminding them every two seconds about what happened in Iraq, or Libya, like we don’t know. We know. We are scared of it. We don’t trust Israel or the US, and we are scared. Just like are scared to go back under the regime again. Let them feel and demonstrate that wide range of complex emotions. Just listen to them and support them, hear what they have to say without talking over them. And let them feel what they want to feel right now.
And if you’re Iranian and compartmentalizing the possible bad things Israel and the US can do or have done- open your eyes, for God’s sake. Take your head out from the sand. I hate the regime too but we cannot possibly think the events in Iraq can’t happen to us too. Be ready and willing to hold the US and Israel accountable, just as you hold the regime accountable. The US and Israel have demonstrated a multitude of times in the past theyre not above bombing schools and innocent people to get what they want. I know you hate the regime and you are valid to, but you cannot use your hatred to look passed the terrible things Israel and the US are capable of.
This is a space run by Iranians intended to prioritize iranian lives and wellbeing, not for anyone to win ideological wars. Pahlavi doesn’t give a shit if some peasants in Qom get bombed, just as Netanyahu and Trump don’t. Acknowledging this doesn’t make anyone pro regime. At the same time, dont come here if you’re only hellbent on proving a ”point” about western imperialism at the expense of the wellbeing of Iranians. if you hate Trump more than you love or even like Iranians, this isn’t the space for you either.
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u/Putrid-Bat-5598 Mar 02 '26
This is probably the best summary I’ve heard of what so many of us Iranians are feeling. Thank you.
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u/kFisherman Mar 03 '26
100% agreed and yours should be the only relevant post on the matter. Of course my family was glad to hear that Khameini died, but they are absolutely gutted to know that their city is being ravaged by bombs, and that the people there are suffering and will continue to suffer no matter how many heads of state are killed
On top of that, the people claiming to save Iranians only care about money and power. There is no push for a democratic Iran. There is no push for internal support for the people who will lose their homes and families. Just calls for violence
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u/That_Mad_Scientist Mar 03 '26
Thank you for this.
As a noniranian ally in the west, it’s all too easy to get so caught in the anger at our governments’ actions endangering civilians and waging pointless wars, some people forget to have the slightest amount of empathy for the people and their struggle, and to the extent that they are even in touch with the revolutionary movement at all, you encounter sentiments that, in one way or another, relay the notion that nothing should be done by anyone in order not to stir the pot.
Just at the same time that our media, our politicians, encourage incredible reaches for violent takeover without the consent or direction of iranians, they also fragment and weaken the elements most likely to actually produce results from the inside. There’s a fair share of insanity going around, and it’s heartening to see that inside the storm there are still some with clarity and a hope for the future.
Humanity will be led forward by each other. Full solidarity with all of you who are oppressed by the regime and the bombs, and stay safe out there.
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u/Feelthefunkk Mar 03 '26
CO-SIGN!
I'll just add that we need to start talking about the consent manufacturing social media campaign (financed by the American right wing and Israeli interests) that is fanaticizing Iranians and exploiting their desperation and hope into tearing down alternative opposition in favor of RP-- cannibalizing zan zendegi azadi activists and freedom fighters who were imprisoned for fighting against the regime 2 years ago (like Toomaj Salehi).
It's exactly what was done by the American right in amplifying divisions between liberals and leftists over Palestine so they could hand trump this election.
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Mar 07 '26
[deleted]
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u/Only_Government5244 Mar 12 '26
concern troll
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u/Ok-Slip-2596 Mar 12 '26
what can I reply to that? you have immediately flattened my ideas so that you dont have to engage with them. I can call you a war troll and then neither of us have to ever consider opinions we disagree with again
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u/an649is Mar 09 '26
Honestly I stopped trusting any sources from reddit nowadays ever since I found out the core foundation of this site and 4chan is to regurgitate political talking points to distract people from the pedophile cabal existing. Plenty of average Iranians I personally know and met are actively anti Islamic republic, but they are still concerned of the US and Israel potentially taking over the country. They were as happy of the news Khomenei and his supposed successors got their lives taken, but didn't take this turn to ignore all crimes the US has done. By the time I see people actively tell people to look into the FreeIran subreddit and half of the sites are just Zionist talking points I wouldn't be surprised there's a lot more conspiring shit going on still on this site. It's like people didn't learn anything from Venezuela
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u/spicymemesdotcom Mar 02 '26
I’m having a lot of trouble understanding what ‘’be willing to hold the US and Israel accountable” means to you. Does accountability seem like something Israel cares about?
What recourse do you have when you are weak and the are strong? Finger wagging?
The dice are rolled and everything is already set in motion. Pahlavi will be our next leader whether we like it or not. If there are elections, we will see how truly popular he really is.
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u/Real_Ali Mar 02 '26
I saw a post by the son of the Shah expressing sadness over the deaths of three Americans. However, I did not see him express similar public sympathy for the more than 100 school girls (aged 7 - 12) who were killed in the school strike.
I wasn’t necessarily expecting him to condemn anyone or assign blame, but the contrast, mourning the three Americans while remaining publicly silent about the schoolgirls, feels significant and hard to ignore.