Divided Loyalties: Young Iranians Confront the Dilemma of Foreign Intervention

As Israel intensifies its military strikes against Iran, many young Iranians grapple with the complexities of foreign intervention, torn between the desire for regime change and apprehension over the consequences of external military action.

Last Friday marked a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran, as Israel launched extensive air strikes on various targets within Iranian territory, provoking a swift response from Tehran with missile barrages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the Iranian populace via video, claimed the strikes were not only aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear ambitions but also at facilitating the Iranian people's quest for freedom. This statement elicited a polarized response from Iran's fractured opposition, leaving many young Iranians in a deep moral quandary over the involvement of a foreign power.

Inside Iran, official dissent has long been silenced, with opposition groups forced to operate from abroad due to the government's formidable crackdown on any expressions of unrest. Among these groups are supporters of exiled monarch Reza Pahlavi and the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK/MKO). Given the Iranian regime's tight control over communication channels, journalists face monumental challenges in connecting with local voices. Nevertheless, we managed to gather insights from several young Iranians who openly oppose the regime, though their identities are kept confidential to ensure their safety.

Tara, a 26-year-old, described a disheartening tactic used by authorities—cutting off internet access during Israeli airstrike warnings to obscure the truth and inflate the death toll among civilians. She chastised the government for its use of propaganda, stating decisively that “the real enemy has kept us suffering for decades: the Islamic Republic.”

The environment within Iran is complicated by military tactics employed by the Israeli military, which have resulted in a multitude of casualties, particularly among the elite units of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Some young Iranians, like Sima, a 27-year-old, exhibit a troubling ambivalence toward Israel’s actions, hinting at a desire for immediate resolution despite their safety concerns. “I wish Israel would get the job done as soon as possible,” she admitted, emphasizing the debilitating effect of living under an oppressive regime.

Others, like Amir, 23, are more overtly supportive of Israel’s strikes, feeling empowered by the prospect of seeing their oppressors face consequences. “Not the UN, not Europe, not even us,” he lamented, recalling the violent quelling of protests that erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini.

However, the backlash against Netanyahu's rhetoric has also surfaced among the youth, particularly those disillusioned by the notion that violence can lead to liberation. Navid, a 25-year-old activist, expressed skepticism about foreign military power toppling the regime without extensive collateral damage to ordinary Iranians. “I just don’t see how the regime can be overthrown without the country being destroyed,” he voiced.

Darya, 26, conveyed a similar sentiment of helplessness, emphasizing that external bombings wouldn’t galvanize the populace to rise against the Iranian state. “People are not protesting—it’s a clear response to Netanyahu,” she pointed out dishearteningly.

Finally, some, like Arezou, 22, voiced a deep-seated frustration about the brutal choices before them. “I feel like I have to choose between two evils, and I can’t,” she stated poignantly. Echoing the collective desire for peace, Mina, 27, remarked that freedom should not come wrapped in violence and despair, advocating for a more humane resolution to their plight.

As this conflict evolves, the voices of the Iranian youth demonstrate the complexities of their struggles—refusal to accept oppression from within while grappling with the dangerous allure of external intervention.