When world leaders convene at the UN General Assembly each September, Iranian exiles hold demonstrations against the ayatollah regime just outside the building. This year, I have noticed a significant increase in the number of protests. It also appears that they are also much more organized: yellow vests; high-quality effigies; and truck-mounted signs that crisscross manhattan with anti-regime messages.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Having the Butcher from Tehran Ebrahim Raisi as the president of the republic has become a rallying cry for the Iranians in the country and beyond. In fact, it appears that the protesters at the General Assembly did not carry Mahsa Amini's picture. This means that their widespread campaign against the president's visit to New York was meticulously planned even before her brutal death of the 22-year-old woman and the widespread protests it had ignited.
At this critical juncture in history, every democracy-seeking person who cares for human rights and espouses free elections and peace is duty-bound to show steadfast and unequivocal support for the Iranian masses standing up to the regime. It must not be limited to cheering from the bleachers; it should be matched with action.
Now that Iran has tried to cut off internet access, it is up to Israel, the US, and other democracies to find a way to set up clandestine connectivity for the Iranian people to continue their protests. Massive budgets should also be allocated to help them, as well as any other form of support. On top of that, the West must show here and now that it is fully behind them by making a public statement validating that Iran's protesters are doing the right thing, just like its show of support for Ukrainians and their justifiable action against the Russian occupation,
Supporting the protests is not just the right thing morally, it is also correct on a political level. Precisely because no nuclear deal is going to be completed anytime soon, toppling the regime by popular uprising is the least dangerous path to counter Iran's aggression – both in the form of its export of terrorism or its path to a bomb.
Perhaps many Iranians are going to lose their lives on the way, but if history is any guide, dictatorial regimes are usually much more fragile than they appear. As soon as one brick in the wall falls, it will start to collapse. In any case, it is better to have the regime toppled now before it is nuclear than after it had already achieved much greater deterrence.
The ongoing unrest is very much like that which erupted in 2009. Back then the Obama administration chose to ignore it; that was a big mistake. Now, the man who was Obama's vice president has a historic opportunity he can seize. By expending little energy and without using military force, President Joe Biden and the West can remove a threat to world peace and liberate a nation from the yoke of a brutal regime. With a bit of courage and effort, the ayatollahs could be thrown into the dustbin of history.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
