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Arab News
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Factions pour fuel on the fire of regional maps
Can a country, no matter how large, contain two armies, two authorities and two 'states?' Is obligatory coexistence just a form of truce until one army succeeds in defeating the other? Is a clash between the two armies, two authorities and two states inevitable because the factions are impeding countries from heading toward a time of stability and investment? Have the countries grown weary of factions and decided to return to a time of normal states after paying a heavy price during the time of militias? The time of the factions did not succeed in deterring the savagery of Benjamin Netanyahu's army. It all began during a meeting at a Beirut apartment between Iranian and Lebanese activists in the wake of the success of Ayatollah Khomeini's revolution. The focus was on how to fortify the regime of the revolution against potential dangers. The gatherers believed that the ouster of Mohammed Mosaddegh's government in 1953 was a strong example of why regular armies should not be trusted. They believed that such armies tended to pounce whenever they sensed an impending revolution or whiff of change. They also believed that armies were a possible source of danger because they could be infiltrated by Western intelligence services. The gatherers were therefore in agreement on the need to come up with a force that would prevent a segment of the Iranian army from rising up against the Khomeinist revolution. Anis Al-Naqqash claimed that he was the first to propose the idea of forming the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Iranian model would be replicated in other countries in the region as part of the 'Axis of Resistance' project. Following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, and with then-Syrian President Hafez Assad's approval, Khomeini formed Hezbollah in Lebanon as the first tangible implementation of Iran's policy of 'exporting the revolution' that is enshrined in its constitution. Iran would go on to transform southern Lebanon into an Iranian-Israeli front, when it had previously served as a Palestinian-Israeli one. As it clashed with Israel over the years, Hezbollah gained a halo of sorts, transforming into its own army and statelet. Despite Lebanon's diverse composition, Hezbollah became the country's sole decision-maker that had the final say over presidents and governments. Khomeini formed Hezbollah in Lebanon as the first tangible implementation of Iran's policy of 'exporting the revolution.' Ghassan Charbel It even took away from the government one of its most important powers: the decision of war and peace. Hezbollah never consulted anyone when it embarked on its mission to save Bashar Assad's regime with Iran and Russia's backing. It never consulted anyone when it opened its 'support front' in solidarity with Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023, Al-Aqsa Flood Operation. The Syrian army, meanwhile, overestimated its own strength before realizing it would be unable to save the Assad regime. So, it turned to pro-Iran militias and Russian air power. Iran would also reap another success, this time in Iraq, where Gen. Qassem Soleimani would turn Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani's fatwa to take part in the fight against Daesh into an opportunity to form a parallel army called the Popular Mobilization Forces. Of course, we cannot deny the role of the PMF in fighting Daesh, but recent developments in Iraq are demonstrating the difficulty of having two armies coexisting in one map. We can add to the above the Houthi coup in Yemen, which completed the Axis of Resistance, marking an unprecedented success for Iran. It managed to not only surround Israel, but also some other countries in the region. It established a group of armies to serve as its proxies and keep danger away from its own territory. Iran possessed decisive cards in four countries that it could leverage in any serious negotiations with the US. Building the Axis of Resistance demanded billions of dollars and meddling in the internal affairs of other countries. It built massive tunnel networks, set up weapons smuggling routes and carried out attacks, bombings and assassinations. With the axis all set up, Iran appeared to be the Middle East's most powerful player. However, the axis would eventually break apart due to three factors: Israel's military superiority on various fronts, the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and the toppling of the Assad regime in Syria. Recent developments in Iraq are demonstrating the difficulty of having two armies coexisting in one map. Ghassan Charbel Iran has so far refused to acknowledge the new reality in the region, even after the war reached its own skies and claimed the lives of its generals and scientists. It is having a hard time admitting that Yahya Sinwar's Al-Aqsa Flood Operation turned into a calamity for the Axis of Resistance. The axis lost Syria — its most significant link — and Hezbollah, with its ability to fight or deter Israel. Iran lost its ability to attack Israel from the territory of its Arab neighbors. To add to that, the governments in Baghdad, Damascus and Beirut are all demanding that the state has a monopoly over arms, while demanding roadmaps that are safeguarded by constitutions and regular armies, not the factions. Given its past experiences, Baghdad has concluded that it cannot speak of stability, prosperity and investment if drones operated by the 'private sector' can attack radars or oil fields or if members of the PMF can 'punish' the state's own security forces. The parliament's confusion over how to deal with the PMF law does not stem just from the US' opposition to it. Meanwhile, remarks by an adviser to the Iranian supreme leader, Ali Akbar Velayati, reflect just how much Tehran refuses to acknowledge and work with the changes that have taken place in the region. He rejected the Lebanese government's decision to disarm all factions, including Hezbollah, disregarding Lebanon's drive toward wanting to once again become a normal state that makes its own decisions through its institutions. Velayati also said the PMF in Iraq was playing the same role Hezbollah played in Lebanon. In a remarkable development that reflects the extent of the changes in the region, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry condemned Velayati's statements as blatant interference in Lebanese internal affairs. The Iraqi, Syrian and Lebanese people are dreaming of the establishment of their own normal states. The factions are not the sole cause of instability in the region, but their presence is preventing countries from consolidating their institutions, fighting corruption and carrying out development plans. Armed factions weaken states and waste the most important revolution any country can possess — that of stability under the rule of law. The factions' insistence on holding on to their arsenals means that difficult days are ahead. Rejecting a normal state means the factions will pour fuel on the fire of regional maps. • Ghassan Charbel is editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper. X: @GhasanCharbel This article first appeared in Asharq Al-Awsat.
The Standard
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The Standard
Iran's Atomic Energy Organization says it will not allow nuclear development to stop
Iranian flags are displayed on the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol as part of a demonstration organized by activists who support regime change by the people of Iran, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 20, 2025. (Reuters)
CNN
16-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Netanyahu says Israel's operation may lead to regime change in Iran. How likely is that?
Since Israel began its concerted attack on Iran on Friday, calls for regime change in Iran have grown louder – from hawks in the United States Congress to Israeli officials and some Iranian activists abroad. They argue that the Islamic Republic is significantly weakened, and that now is the time to capitalize on domestic unrest and public discontent to bring about the overthrow of its ruling clerical establishment, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at its head. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Sunday that Israel's operation 'could certainly' result in regime change, as the government in Iran is 'very weak.' He claimed that '80% of the people would throw these theological thugs out.' 'They shoot women because their hair is uncovered. They shoot students. They just suck the oxygen out from these brave and gifted people, the Iranian people,' Netanyahu said. 'The decision to act, to rise up this time, is the decision of the Iranian people.' Freedom of speech is heavily restricted in Iran, and there have been no major public calls from within the country to overthrow the regime following Israel's attacks. But experts say Netanyahu may be misreading Iranian public sentiment – and that the strikes could backfire. Israel's attacks are more likely to direct public anger toward Israel, as domestic issues are briefly put aside while Iranians run for shelter, experts say. 'Iranian activists, people who fought for freedom and justice all their lives, first of all know that their value has little to do with people like Netanyahu,' Arash Azizi, an Iran expert based in New York City and author of the book 'What Iranians Want,' told CNN. They recognize Netanyahu's right-wing government 'is not at all aligned with their values.' Iran has in recent years seen nationwide protests against the regime, especially in 2022 and 2023, sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly. Many activists have since been detained, and authorities have sought repress further protest, instilling fear with a rise in criminal prosecutions and executions. Disgruntlement is widespread. But experts, and Iranians currently living under Israeli bombardment, said that most Iranians don't see Netanyahu or his government as having the solution to their domestic problems. Many of those who spoke to CNN in recent days did not want to be named for safety reasons, and none expressed support for Netanyahu's calls for a revolt. A local Iranian journalist told CNN that while some believe the conflict could be an opportunity for a potential push for regime change, they want to build their future themselves. Others believe that Israeli attacks are not the correct basis for political change, and that such a shift should take place through democratic procedures. Another journalist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told CNN that the perception at home is that the regime isn't weak, and that people are unlikely to protest while their cities are being bombed. 'The people of Iran have fought against the Islamic Republic for years, striving for democracy and freedom,' the journalist said from Tehran. 'But I believe that in the current situation, those who are terrified under missiles and explosions, trying to protect their children and loved ones, do not have the psychological or practical capacity to 'take to the streets.' The streets, which are constantly under attack, are now emptier than ever.' 'Moreover, from the public's perspective, the Islamic Republic has not yet become weak enough to collapse through protests. Any action against the regime during wartime will lead to brutal repression,' the journalist said, adding that 'now the regime has free rein to label anyone it wants as an Israeli spy.' Others say during a time of national crisis, people are more likely to favor unity, no matter how dissatisfied they are. To them, foreign intervention is a red line. 'There is no support that they will give to Netanyahu's war on themselves and their society. If anything, they are organizing now to help each other defend their country,' Azizi said, referring to anti-regime Iranians. 'Any idea that this will lead to a popular uprising of some sort that will bring down the regime has very little basis in reality.' Even in the diaspora, where many anti-regime Iranians live, there is anger at Israel's actions, with activists calling for unity in the face of Israel's assault. Narges Mohammadi, one of Iran's most prominent human rights activists and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who has spent years in prison in Tehran on what supporters say are politically motivated charges, posted on X: 'Iranian Civil Society Says No to War!' She and other Iranian activists, including fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi and filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, all of whom have been pursued by the regime for their activism, wrote a joint opinion piece in France's Le Monde newspaper Monday calling for an end to the war – but they also demanded that Iran stop enrichment of uranium and that the regime step down. 'This conflict not only destroys infrastructure and claims civilian lives but also constitutes a serious threat to the very foundations of human civilization,' they wrote. In recent years, Israel has strengthened ties with Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran's deposed monarch. Pahlavi voiced support for Israel's actions, drawing praise from some in the Iranian diaspora and accusations of betrayal from others. 'Soon in Tehran,' Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli posted on X on Friday, along with a picture of himself shaking hands with a smiling Pahlavi. Pahlavi told BBC News on Sunday that Israel's conflict with Iran was an opportunity to bring down the Iranian regime. 'The ultimate solution is regime change,' he said. 'Now, we have an opportunity, because this regime is at its weakest point. There's (a) window in which we can operate and hopefully liberate our country.' His US-backed father had warm ties with Israel before he was overthrown by the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Israel has pounded Iran with strikes for four days, striking residential areas and the country's civilian infrastructure. At least 224 people have been killed in the country since hostilities began Friday, the health ministry said Sunday, according to state media. Israel has said it is doing so to stop the Islamic Republic from acquiring a nuclear weapon and has targeted several of the country's nuclear sites, but civilians appear to have borne the brunt of the attacks. Iran has retaliated by firing 370 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said. By Monday morning, 24 people had been killed in Israel and 592 others had been wounded. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that 'the residents of Tehran will pay the price,' later clarifying that Israel didn't intend to harm civilians. Israeli officials 'don't even pretend' to care about the safety of Iranian civilians, said Azizi, the Iran expert. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for unity, in a statement released through state media. 'The people of Iran must join hands and stand strong against the aggression that has been launched against us,' Pezeshkian said, adding that the Iranians were 'not the aggressors' and defending Iran's right to a peaceful nuclear program. In its operation, Israel has taken out some of Iran's most senior military officials, including in the powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Even if the leadership changes, it may not look like what Netanyahu hopes for, Iran experts said. 'Regime change is a possibility, just not the kind that Netanyahu has in mind,' Mohammad Ali Shabani, editor of the Amwaj news outlet, wrote on X. 'Among potential medium-term outcomes of Israel's war on Iran: military-led administration, possibly armed with nuclear weapons.' Netanyahu's call for regime change by force has also alarmed other countries in the region. Speaking to the Paris-based journal Le Grand Continent, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, warned that 'when a country feels under attack, nationalism tends to intensify.' Asked about Netanyahu's call for an uprising in Iran, Gargash said: 'The region cannot be reshaped through force and confrontation. We may be able to resolve some problems in the short term, but this will lead to others that are at least as serious.'. Iranians who spoke to CNN said they don't see Israel's actions as helping their country. 'Netanyahu has attacked us, and now he expects us to overthrow Khamenei while we're standing in lines for bread and fuel, worried about our own survival? To topple Khamenei with Israeli missiles?' one of the Iranian journalists who spoke to CNN said. 'Of course, we're glad to see the leaders of this regime - whose hands are stained with the blood of our children - killed. But the death of ordinary people is painful.'
CNN
16-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Netanyahu says Israel's operation may lead to regime change in Iran. How likely is that?
Since Israel began its concerted attack on Iran on Friday, calls for regime change in Iran have grown louder – from hawks in the United States Congress to Israeli officials and some Iranian activists abroad. They argue that the Islamic Republic is significantly weakened, and that now is the time to capitalize on domestic unrest and public discontent to bring about the overthrow of its ruling clerical establishment, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at its head. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Sunday that Israel's operation 'could certainly' result in regime change, as the government in Iran is 'very weak.' He claimed that '80% of the people would throw these theological thugs out.' 'They shoot women because their hair is uncovered. They shoot students. They just suck the oxygen out from these brave and gifted people, the Iranian people,' Netanyahu said. 'The decision to act, to rise up this time, is the decision of the Iranian people.' Freedom of speech is heavily restricted in Iran, and there have been no major public calls from within the country to overthrow the regime following Israel's attacks. But experts say Netanyahu may be misreading Iranian public sentiment – and that the strikes could backfire. Israel's attacks are more likely to direct public anger toward Israel, as domestic issues are briefly put aside while Iranians run for shelter, experts say. 'Iranian activists, people who fought for freedom and justice all their lives, first of all know that their value has little to do with people like Netanyahu,' Arash Azizi, an Iran expert based in New York City and author of the book 'What Iranians Want,' told CNN. They recognize Netanyahu's right-wing government 'is not at all aligned with their values.' Iran has in recent years seen nationwide protests against the regime, especially in 2022 and 2023, sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly. Many activists have since been detained, and authorities have sought repress further protest, instilling fear with a rise in criminal prosecutions and executions. Disgruntlement is widespread. But experts, and Iranians currently living under Israeli bombardment, said that most Iranians don't see Netanyahu or his government as having the solution to their domestic problems. Many of those who spoke to CNN in recent days did not want to be named for safety reasons, and none expressed support for Netanyahu's calls for a revolt. A local Iranian journalist told CNN that while some believe the conflict could be an opportunity for a potential push for regime change, they want to build their future themselves. Others believe that Israeli attacks are not the correct basis for political change, and that such a shift should take place through democratic procedures. Another journalist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told CNN that the perception at home is that the regime isn't weak, and that people are unlikely to protest while their cities are being bombed. 'The people of Iran have fought against the Islamic Republic for years, striving for democracy and freedom,' the journalist said from Tehran. 'But I believe that in the current situation, those who are terrified under missiles and explosions, trying to protect their children and loved ones, do not have the psychological or practical capacity to 'take to the streets.' The streets, which are constantly under attack, are now emptier than ever.' 'Moreover, from the public's perspective, the Islamic Republic has not yet become weak enough to collapse through protests. Any action against the regime during wartime will lead to brutal repression,' the journalist said, adding that 'now the regime has free rein to label anyone it wants as an Israeli spy.' Others say during a time of national crisis, people are more likely to favor unity, no matter how dissatisfied they are. To them, foreign intervention is a red line. 'There is no support that they will give to Netanyahu's war on themselves and their society. If anything, they are organizing now to help each other defend their country,' Azizi said, referring to anti-regime Iranians. 'Any idea that this will lead to a popular uprising of some sort that will bring down the regime has very little basis in reality.' Even in the diaspora, where many anti-regime Iranians live, there is anger at Israel's actions, with activists calling for unity in the face of Israel's assault. Narges Mohammadi, one of Iran's most prominent human rights activists and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who has spent years in prison in Tehran on what supporters say are politically motivated charges, posted on X: 'Iranian Civil Society Says No to War!' She and other Iranian activists, including fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi and filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, all of whom have been pursued by the regime for their activism, wrote a joint opinion piece in France's Le Monde newspaper Monday calling for an end to the war – but they also demanded that Iran stop enrichment of uranium and that the regime step down. 'This conflict not only destroys infrastructure and claims civilian lives but also constitutes a serious threat to the very foundations of human civilization,' they wrote. In recent years, Israel has strengthened ties with Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran's deposed monarch. Pahlavi voiced support for Israel's actions, drawing praise from some in the Iranian diaspora and accusations of betrayal from others. 'Soon in Tehran,' Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli posted on X on Friday, along with a picture of himself shaking hands with a smiling Pahlavi. Pahlavi told BBC News on Sunday that Israel's conflict with Iran was an opportunity to bring down the Iranian regime. 'The ultimate solution is regime change,' he said. 'Now, we have an opportunity, because this regime is at its weakest point. There's (a) window in which we can operate and hopefully liberate our country.' His US-backed father had warm ties with Israel before he was overthrown by the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Israel has pounded Iran with strikes for four days, striking residential areas and the country's civilian infrastructure. At least 224 people have been killed in the country since hostilities began Friday, the health ministry said Sunday, according to state media. Israel has said it is doing so to stop the Islamic Republic from acquiring a nuclear weapon and has targeted several of the country's nuclear sites, but civilians appear to have borne the brunt of the attacks. Iran has retaliated by firing 370 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said. By Monday morning, 24 people had been killed in Israel and 592 others had been wounded. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that 'the residents of Tehran will pay the price,' later clarifying that Israel didn't intend to harm civilians. Israeli officials 'don't even pretend' to care about the safety of Iranian civilians, said Azizi, the Iran expert. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for unity, in a statement released through state media. 'The people of Iran must join hands and stand strong against the aggression that has been launched against us,' Pezeshkian said, adding that the Iranians were 'not the aggressors' and defending Iran's right to a peaceful nuclear program. In its operation, Israel has taken out some of Iran's most senior military officials, including in the powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Even if the leadership changes, it may not look like what Netanyahu hopes for, Iran experts said. 'Regime change is a possibility, just not the kind that Netanyahu has in mind,' Mohammad Ali Shabani, editor of the Amwaj news outlet, wrote on X. 'Among potential medium-term outcomes of Israel's war on Iran: military-led administration, possibly armed with nuclear weapons.' Netanyahu's call for regime change by force has also alarmed other countries in the region. Speaking to the Paris-based journal Le Grand Continent, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, warned that 'when a country feels under attack, nationalism tends to intensify.' Asked about Netanyahu's call for an uprising in Iran, Gargash said: 'The region cannot be reshaped through force and confrontation. We may be able to resolve some problems in the short term, but this will lead to others that are at least as serious.'. Iranians who spoke to CNN said they don't see Israel's actions as helping their country. 'Netanyahu has attacked us, and now he expects us to overthrow Khamenei while we're standing in lines for bread and fuel, worried about our own survival? To topple Khamenei with Israeli missiles?' one of the Iranian journalists who spoke to CNN said. 'Of course, we're glad to see the leaders of this regime - whose hands are stained with the blood of our children - killed. But the death of ordinary people is painful.'
CNN
16-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Netanyahu says Israel's operation may lead to regime change in Iran. How likely is that?
Since Israel began its concerted attack on Iran on Friday, calls for regime change in Iran have grown louder – from hawks in the United States Congress to Israeli officials and some Iranian activists abroad. They argue that the Islamic Republic is significantly weakened, and that now is the time to capitalize on domestic unrest and public discontent to bring about the overthrow of its ruling clerical establishment, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at its head. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Sunday that Israel's operation 'could certainly' result in regime change, as the government in Iran is 'very weak.' He claimed that '80% of the people would throw these theological thugs out.' 'They shoot women because their hair is uncovered. They shoot students. They just suck the oxygen out from these brave and gifted people, the Iranian people,' Netanyahu said. 'The decision to act, to rise up this time, is the decision of the Iranian people.' Freedom of speech is heavily restricted in Iran, and there have been no major public calls from within the country to overthrow the regime following Israel's attacks. But experts say Netanyahu may be misreading Iranian public sentiment – and that the strikes could backfire. Israel's attacks are more likely to direct public anger toward Israel, as domestic issues are briefly put aside while Iranians run for shelter, experts say. 'Iranian activists, people who fought for freedom and justice all their lives, first of all know that their value has little to do with people like Netanyahu,' Arash Azizi, an Iran expert based in New York City and author of the book 'What Iranians Want,' told CNN. They recognize Netanyahu's right-wing government 'is not at all aligned with their values.' Iran has in recent years seen nationwide protests against the regime, especially in 2022 and 2023, sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly. Many activists have since been detained, and authorities have sought repress further protest, instilling fear with a rise in criminal prosecutions and executions. Disgruntlement is widespread. But experts, and Iranians currently living under Israeli bombardment, said that most Iranians don't see Netanyahu or his government as having the solution to their domestic problems. Many of those who spoke to CNN in recent days did not want to be named for safety reasons, and none expressed support for Netanyahu's calls for a revolt. A local Iranian journalist told CNN that while some believe the conflict could be an opportunity for a potential push for regime change, they want to build their future themselves. Others believe that Israeli attacks are not the correct basis for political change, and that such a shift should take place through democratic procedures. Another journalist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told CNN that the perception at home is that the regime isn't weak, and that people are unlikely to protest while their cities are being bombed. 'The people of Iran have fought against the Islamic Republic for years, striving for democracy and freedom,' the journalist said from Tehran. 'But I believe that in the current situation, those who are terrified under missiles and explosions, trying to protect their children and loved ones, do not have the psychological or practical capacity to 'take to the streets.' The streets, which are constantly under attack, are now emptier than ever.' 'Moreover, from the public's perspective, the Islamic Republic has not yet become weak enough to collapse through protests. Any action against the regime during wartime will lead to brutal repression,' the journalist said, adding that 'now the regime has free rein to label anyone it wants as an Israeli spy.' Others say during a time of national crisis, people are more likely to favor unity, no matter how dissatisfied they are. To them, foreign intervention is a red line. 'There is no support that they will give to Netanyahu's war on themselves and their society. If anything, they are organizing now to help each other defend their country,' Azizi said, referring to anti-regime Iranians. 'Any idea that this will lead to a popular uprising of some sort that will bring down the regime has very little basis in reality.' Even in the diaspora, where many anti-regime Iranians live, there is anger at Israel's actions, with activists calling for unity in the face of Israel's assault. Narges Mohammadi, one of Iran's most prominent human rights activists and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who has spent years in prison in Tehran on what supporters say are politically motivated charges, posted on X: 'Iranian Civil Society Says No to War!' She and other Iranian activists, including fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi and filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, all of whom have been pursued by the regime for their activism, wrote a joint opinion piece in France's Le Monde newspaper Monday calling for an end to the war – but they also demanded that Iran stop enrichment of uranium and that the regime step down. 'This conflict not only destroys infrastructure and claims civilian lives but also constitutes a serious threat to the very foundations of human civilization,' they wrote. In recent years, Israel has strengthened ties with Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran's deposed monarch. Pahlavi voiced support for Israel's actions, drawing praise from some in the Iranian diaspora and accusations of betrayal from others. 'Soon in Tehran,' Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli posted on X on Friday, along with a picture of himself shaking hands with a smiling Pahlavi. Pahlavi told BBC News on Sunday that Israel's conflict with Iran was an opportunity to bring down the Iranian regime. 'The ultimate solution is regime change,' he said. 'Now, we have an opportunity, because this regime is at its weakest point. There's (a) window in which we can operate and hopefully liberate our country.' His US-backed father had warm ties with Israel before he was overthrown by the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Israel has pounded Iran with strikes for four days, striking residential areas and the country's civilian infrastructure. At least 224 people have been killed in the country since hostilities began Friday, the health ministry said Sunday, according to state media. Israel has said it is doing so to stop the Islamic Republic from acquiring a nuclear weapon and has targeted several of the country's nuclear sites, but civilians appear to have borne the brunt of the attacks. Iran has retaliated by firing 370 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said. By Monday morning, 24 people had been killed in Israel and 592 others had been wounded. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that 'the residents of Tehran will pay the price,' later clarifying that Israel didn't intend to harm civilians. Israeli officials 'don't even pretend' to care about the safety of Iranian civilians, said Azizi, the Iran expert. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for unity, in a statement released through state media. 'The people of Iran must join hands and stand strong against the aggression that has been launched against us,' Pezeshkian said, adding that the Iranians were 'not the aggressors' and defending Iran's right to a peaceful nuclear program. In its operation, Israel has taken out some of Iran's most senior military officials, including in the powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Even if the leadership changes, it may not look like what Netanyahu hopes for, Iran experts said. 'Regime change is a possibility, just not the kind that Netanyahu has in mind,' Mohammad Ali Shabani, editor of the Amwaj news outlet, wrote on X. 'Among potential medium-term outcomes of Israel's war on Iran: military-led administration, possibly armed with nuclear weapons.' Netanyahu's call for regime change by force has also alarmed other countries in the region. Speaking to the Paris-based journal Le Grand Continent, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, warned that 'when a country feels under attack, nationalism tends to intensify.' Asked about Netanyahu's call for an uprising in Iran, Gargash said: 'The region cannot be reshaped through force and confrontation. We may be able to resolve some problems in the short term, but this will lead to others that are at least as serious.'. Iranians who spoke to CNN said they don't see Israel's actions as helping their country. 'Netanyahu has attacked us, and now he expects us to overthrow Khamenei while we're standing in lines for bread and fuel, worried about our own survival? To topple Khamenei with Israeli missiles?' one of the Iranian journalists who spoke to CNN said. 'Of course, we're glad to see the leaders of this regime - whose hands are stained with the blood of our children - killed. But the death of ordinary people is painful.'
