The Persian Door That US-Israel Can No Longer Close

There are some facts, and some deliberate myths that are created before, during, and after a war. Each and every conflict this writer has covered over the past decades is surrounded by hype, usually spread by a compromised media, which is intended to obfuscate the facts. Hence, the accompanying effort by reporters, analysts and chroniclers has to focus on sifting the chaff and recording the truth as far as possible.

While there is considerable, and some excellent military analysis ( such as assessments of the Israel-US vs Iran war by Colonel Douglas MacGregor, former Advisor to the US Secretary of Defence) there are political untruths that are being spread like wildfire. The one big plus this time around is that the Americans themselves are not buying the propaganda of their own Trump Administration, and leading Democrats and others have been actively challenging the arguments in favour of this war. However, even a cursory look at the big American media till today reflects the degree of compromise and big money control over the journalist with the usual ‘ we are winning the war’ rah rah.

Let's start with some of the myths used to justify the attack. One has to remember that Iran has been under attack for 73 years, ever since 1953 when the MI6 (British Intelligence) and the CIA (American intelligence) joined to topple a democratically elected government in Tehran. As scholar Jeffrey Sachs has pointed out, since then the West has meddled continuously with Iran that was placed under tight sanctions 40 long years ago, and threatened continuously with attacks and war. The country has been barely able to breathe with the might of the US, its Western allies and of course Israel in the neighbourhood ranged against it.

Myth One- Iran is actively developing a nuclear weapon. This has been used to attack Iran in recent months again despite the Iranian leadership and independent observers declarations that there is no such development. US Director of National Intelligence under the Trump administration, Tulsi Gabbard said categorically that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, and the now late Supreme Leader Khamenei had not authorised any such nuclear program. She was challenged by Trump and had to change her statement. That the Americans, however, could not continue with this argument is now evident in the latest Israel-US argument for the attack on Iran citing ‘regime change’ as the intention. Both the US and Israel that have done more to destroy democracy than most are suddenly very worried about democracy and women rights in Iran. So much so that the first bombs fell on a primary school in Iran, killing over 160 little girls.

Myth Two- The late Iranian leader Khamenei who was killed in the attack was authoritarian and disliked. In fact the opposite has been true for a long while as he is seen as a man of integrity and discipline by the majority of Iranians, even those who have rebelled for a more generous government in terms of women rights. He is well respected and his ‘martyrdom’ has united the peoples against Israel and the US. Trump’s announcement that all opposing the regime should now come out, was met with zero response, as the Iranians while reserving the right, and indeed campaigning for the right, to change their government are completely opposed to American and Israeli interference in their internal affairs.

Myth Three- This is a Shia-Sunni war with the Arabs against Iran. This perhaps is the most dangerous of the three at this point, the usual colonial effort to create differences and project a divide that really does not exist. While the Gulf governments have sold their independence a long time ago, the Arab street is united with Iran. After Gaza and the massacre of Palestinians the Arab masses have crossed the Shia-Sunni barriers to embrace Iran that is seen as the leading spirit for the Palestinians in the West Asian region. The support for Iran is immense at this point, but authoritarian Arab governments have been able to quell the streets for the moment. Interestingly Iran has emerged as a leader of the masses, regardless of Sunni and Shia, in the region. So much so that the Royal Family controlling Saudi Arabia had to open doors for the Iranian leaders, to assuage public sentiments from time to time.

Politically, no one has misunderstood the Persian civilisation more than the colonisers, today and yesterday. Iran is totally different from the Arab world, and carries a legacy that has stood the test of very difficult times. It has an astute and focused understanding and vision; and as the military response today demonstrates it has a full strategy in place. The Americans have been caught by surprise, judging from the varied responses of Trump and his men, and would like an out. But this will not come, as both America and Israel have crossed the Persian Rubicon by killing the Supreme Leader. Iran will not bend now, and is all prepared to continue the war regardless of the consequences. Militarily, according to American analysts like Colonel MacGregor, it could actually sustain a long drawn out war unlike the Americans and Israel that are running out of weaponry.

Russia and China are extending all possible military help to Iran. Having provided the weapons they are now sharing information, and have made it clear they will step in if and when required to do so. A nuclear attack by Israel to stave off abject defeat will throw open grave consequences, and it is thus imperative for America to move in and stop the carnage while it still remains somewhat in its hands.

Politically there are two certainties, the facts that no one wants to be writing about despite solid arguments and assessments by western experts on Iran. One, that Iran has the capacity to win this war given the present circumstances. And two, West Asia will never be the same again as it could spell the complete dwarfing of Israel in the region, and an end to the hegemony of America. If Iran survives this war, it will finally have a major say not just in its own but also its region's destiny.

Israel has opened a door it no longer has the capacity to close, with even American military power proving too little to rein in the Persians. Khamenei brought in the Persian inheritance and character of Iran out into his politics and his military strategy, preparing for an endless war. This was evident in his ‘martyrdom’ where he refused to leave his house and hide in different locations, even though he knew he was the prime target; and in his blueprint that has ensured a line of successors who will continue with the military doctrine as it were without even a moment's interruption. This was so evident during the first day after the attack that killed Khamenei and his senior officials; the Iran counter attack gathered force and penetrated the skies as if the commanders were still in position. It was only later that the news of their deaths broke; and it became clear that the Persian auto mode was in place. Besides Khameini’s martyrdom has effectively ruled out the possibility of talks, Iran will no longer agree.

America and Israel cannot understand the depths of Persia. These are age-old civilisations for which new countries are no match.

Cover Photograph: Tens of thousands in Iran mourn Khamenei’s killing. Courtesy Al Jazeera