As you may know, “in 1979, the Pahlavi Dynasty was overthrown in a revolution in Iran” (“Human Rights…”). Since then, a theocratic government rules Iran with a Shia Islamic political system based on “Valieh-Fagheeh” (Supreme Leader). Most policies are set upon religious ideologies, in which the government holds a supreme leader, who is the commander-in-chief of the country with the highest-ranking political and religious authority over the people. He is eternally in power and dominates all substantive decisions. Ali Khamenei has held this position since 1989. He directly controls Iran’s regional policy and his tenure lasts until his death.
In addition, the Iranian regime is a controversial subject in most of the international societies. This regime has always been on the table in various areas, such as human rights violations, sponsoring terrorism and assistance to paramilitary groups in the Middle East, and pursuing the construction of nuclear weapons. This regime always been condemned for the above-mentioned activities.
Since the founding of the Islamic Republic, human rights violations have been the subject of resolutions and decisions by the United Nations and its human rights bodies, the Council of Europe, European Parliament and the United States Congress.
Under the Iranian regime’s law, expressing opposition to the government, cursing the Prophet, certain drug offenses, murder, incest, rape, drinking alcohol, homosexuality, lesbianism are punishable by death. According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Iranian government executed 30,000 political prisoners held in Iranian jails in the summer of 1988 (“Iran Events of 2016”). One of them was my brother. His name was Farshid, 23 years old.
Furthermore, the government also denies freedom of religions like Baha’is and Christians. “Mona Mahmudnizhad, executed at the age of 17 in Shiraz in 1983, along with 9 other Bahá’í women” (“Human Rights…”). According to statistics of the department of Iran Human Rights (IHR), Iranian authorities have executed 207 prisoners including five teenagers between January 1th and October 10th, 2018 (“Iran Events of 2016”).
Likewise, this regime has arrested journalists, bloggers, and online media activists for exercising their right to freedom of speech. Hundreds of websites, including social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, remain blocked in Iran.
In addition to the domestic threat towards the Iranian people, the Islamic Republic also sponsors and exports terrorism outside the country’s borders. Human Rights Watch has confirmed that the Iranian regime has played a key role in killing of civilians in the Syrian war. Iran has been Assad’s main supporter since the start of the Syrian civil war (“Iran Events of 2016”).
Iran also backs the Houthi rebels in Yemen and provides them weapons like ballistic missiles. Moreover, this regime is funding and arming Hezbollah, its terrorist proxy in Lebanon. “Every sensible policymaker recognizes that Iran’s fingerprints are prominent on every major crisis in the Middle East” (The Guardian Weekly).
In recent years, the terrorist threat posed by the Iranian regime has turned into an international crisis and has become the focus of international conferences. Iran has stepped up its terrorist and spying activities in Europe and the U.S. In 2018, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Denmark were among the countries that stated that Iran was directly involved in terrorist activities on their soil. The Iranian regime actively uses its embassies and consulates to carry out its terror and spying plots. “Last June, the Netherlands expelled two Iranian embassy workers in connection with the murders” (The Telegraph News).
The Telegraph news in 12 January 2019 • 7:00PM published the following under the title “Iran Is Wreaking Terror in Europe, yet for Brussels Trade Ties Are More Important.” This is the best headline, which clearly shows that even though European countries recognize Iran as a terrorist threat, but they still maintain relations with Iran for economical benefits. Finally, “Following a wave of terror plots on European soil, the EU has woken up to the growing threat Iran poses to global security” (The Telegraph News).
“US State Secretary Mike Pompeo tweeted a map acknowledging several Iran-sponsored attacks in Europe, including the bombing of a bus with tourists at Burgas airport in Bulgaria on July 2012” (The Telegraph News).
In addition to the above argument, Iran's nuclear activities is one of the most controversial issues of international societies. Nuclear weapons could truly change the balance of power in the region. Therefore, the Iranian regime needs this power to behold itself. Historically, Tehran's nuclear project has had many domestic opponents and critics, whose voices have been silenced by the authorities. “They have also warned about the spectre of a nuclear disaster, like the one in Chernobyl” (“Human Rights…”). According to John Bolton, National Security Adviser of the United States,” The fact is that Iran will never voluntarily give up its nuclear program, and a policy based on the contrary assumption is not just delusional but dangerous. This is the road to the Nuclear Holocaust.” (Bolton)
Despite repeated sanctions, the Islamic Republic insists to continue its nuclear program. Iran had increased the number of operating centrifuges at its Fuel Enrichment Plant, and continued to enrich uranium. The Iranian regime announced a new missile called the Hoveizeh 8, from the Cruise missile family. According to Iran’s state news agencies, the new missile has a maximum range of 1,300 kilometers (The Guardian Weekly). Analysts believe that the new missile is derivative from a similar Chinese model. They also consider “Iran is technically able to enrich uranium for producing a bomb within a few months” (The Guardian Weekly).
For more information, The UN Security Council has demanded that Iran suspends its nuclear enrichment activities in multiple resolutions, but until today, the efforts of the Security Council, the European Union and the United States have been fruitless. In this matter, John Bolton stated: What we're focused on is the nuclear weapons program, ballistic missiles, the support for terrorism, and the belligerent activity militarily (Bolton). Recent events increase the likelihood that Iran will accelerate its own plans for a nuclear weapons option. “The murderous regime and its supporters will face significant consequences if they do not change their behavior” (Bolton).
If there is no serious crackdown on Iran, we will see many profound and destabilizing impacts from this regime upon the Middle East and the world soon. Thus, the concern of Iran must be taken very seriously.
Now after arguing about the treats of the Iranian regime, what do you think are the solutions?
There are several discussions about solutions to counteract Iran, and there are several options as a solution on the table of international societies. For example, military attack on nuclear sites, reform and change from within the government, return to the previous imperial system, popular uprising and a free referendum under the supervision of the United Nations.
After forty years of ruling, the majority of Iranians are tired of the Islamic Republic. In the first step, Iran needs freedom. Unless changing the structure of the current ruling regime in Iran, freedom will not be achieved. No military option or foreign war, because these solutions endanger the lives of the Iranian people. No way to reform from within, because the problem is in the integrity of the state structure and all of the members in the system. Therefore, the problem will not be solved by displacing members within the regime. Also, returning to the previous kingdom cannot be a solution, because the Iranian people overthrew the previous system 40 years ago, meaning they were dissatisfied with that system as well. In my opinion, a national uprising is generally a good option, but the Iranian regime will suppress, arrest and kill unlimited to prevent the uprising from growing. The uprisings are always immobile due to lack of effective international support. According to Danner, “If the unrest continues, spreads and increases in size” and finds international supporters, “it could quickly lead to a new political crisis in the country” (Danner, New York Intelligencer) and weakens the Iranian regime.
Unfortunately, some countries still support this regime just for economical benefits, if they stopped their ties and instead support the interests of the Iranian people, undoubtedly, this regime will become weaker and the people of Iran will gain strength. By holding a free referendum under the supervision of the United Nations, people can decide for themselves and determine their own future. Only the Iranian people can change Iran with a free vote through a referendum. Ultimately, the key to ending human rights abuses in Iran, confronting terrorism and preventing an increase in nuclear power, is to change this regime. This is the only key to finding a permanent solution.
Works Cited
Bolton, John. “Iran in the Security Council: The EU-3 Find New Ways to Give in.” Surrender Is Not
an Option, Simon and Schuster,2007, pp.12-68.
Coughlin, Con. “Iran is Wreaking Terror in Europe, yet for Brussels Trade Ties Are More
Important.” The Telegraph News, 12 Jan. 2019,
Danner, Chas. “What the Hell Is Happening in Iran?” New York Intelligencer, 31 Dec. 2017,
“Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Wikipedia, 15 Feb. 2019,
“Iran Events of 2016.” Human Rights Watch, 9 Oct. 2016,
“John Bolton Warns Iran Not to Cross the US or Allies: 'There Will Be Hell to Pay'.” The Guardian