Change My View: I Don't Trust the U.S., Israel, or Saudi Arabia on Iran

[AStern]

Since reading 'Persian Mirrors: The Elusive Face of Iran' by Elaine Sciolino back in the early naughts, I re-evaluated what I thought I knew about Iran.

Since then, I no longer buy the narrative pushed by the U.S., Israel, or Saudi Arabia that Iran is this singular, existential threat to humanity. Frankly, I don't trust any of those governments to offer a good-faith portrayal of the country or its people. They each have their own agendas, and history has shown how easily public perception can be manipulated to justify foreign policy decisions, usually with disastrous results.

And let’s not forget Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s infamous “wipe Israel off the map” statement. It was a reckless and idiotic thing to say, but it was also his opinion, not the official policy of the Iranian government, and certainly not a reflection of the views of all Iranians. Yet Israel (and much of the West) spun that into a justification for endless paranoia, as if one man’s bluster equaled a national war cry. That kind of distortion just feeds the cycle of fear and escalation.

That said, I’m not blind to the serious human rights abuses committed by Iran’s leadership. The government is authoritarian, repressive, and violent toward its own citizens, particularly women, activists, and dissenters. I do believe change is necessary. But I also believe Iranians are more than capable of bringing about that change themselves, and that outside interference, especially military or economic, often makes things worse, not better.

So here’s where I’m at: I'm open to being challenged. If you believe Iran is the threat it’s made out to be, or that outside intervention is justified, I’d like to hear why. I just ask that you come with facts, not fearmongering. Change my view. I'm listening.

[Mosby]

1. Iran has fighters and proxy armies

In Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and the West Bank.

Do you acknowledge that?

[AStern]

2. No, because it sounds like total bullshit.

and the only sources claiming they do are the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

[Mosby]

3. Have a nice day.

Nt

[AStern]

4. You too

[sarisataka]

10. There are others, including self-admissions

Inspired by the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's model of Islamic governance, Hezbollah established strong ties with Iran. The group was initially supported by 1,500 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) instructors, who helped unify various Lebanese Shia factions under Hezbollah's leadership.

Adam Shatz (29 April 2004). "In Search of Hezbollah". The New York Review of Books. 51 (7). Archived from the original on 22 August 2006.

Hezbollah's 1985 manifesto outlined its key objectives, which include expelling Western influence from the region, destroying Israel, pledging allegiance to Iran's supreme leader, and establishing an Islamic government influenced by Iran's political ideology.

Itamar Rabinovich (2008). Israel in the Middle East. UPNE. ISBN 978-0-87451-962-4.

[brush]

5. So many don't know the history of Iran before the Shan and after...

the fundamentalist mullahs revolted against the Shah.

In the 50s Iran had a democratically elected head of state... Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. Our CIA and British Shell Oil were afraid the oil industry there was about to be nationalized so they somehow were able to meddle in Iranian affairs and deposed the PM and installed the Shah who would do whatever they wanted.

It was not until the late '70s that Iranian revolution took place and overthrew the Shan. The CIA meddling change history as Iran may still have had a democratically elected government if the US CIA had interfere to control the oil for British Shell.

And now here we are with our oil watchdog, Israel, succeeding in bringing us into their even wider war in the ME.

Seems Netanyahu wants to rule over the entire region with US backing and US weapons.

When hasn't there been war there with Israel always fighting Palestinians/Arabs? Now there's more to come.

[biocube]

6. Iran sucks

The idea that you can deliver democracy the same way you deliver food and water is also delusional.

[JI7]

7. They have the potential to be a threat . Obama's nuclear deal was what would have kept

them in check. Trump destroyed that so we don't know for sure now.

[Brainfodder]

8. Religion+greed is the recipe, you already knew, but hard to articulate without strife?

I believe the individual power mad greedy are the problem world wide, not the country or their citizens.

Bully heavy little emotion boys still trying to conquer in 2025 is just ridiculous with the tech available.

But with that tech came fooling idiots with it.

[2naSalit]

9. Can't.

You have a favorable perspective and you are correct about much of your claim, though I can't point out where I would argue against anything you stated.

When waging fear of others demonization is required so that war will be acceptable. I recall asking of many elected officials at the start of the Iraq war if anyone had asked cultural anthropologists and sociologists to give some input regarding the people upon whom war is to be waged. I was livid then, numbed by the series of events ever since then but still livid.