A Call for International Support To Help Iranians Overthrow the Ayatollahs

In an opinion piece by Dr. Iman Foroutan titled “Oust the Ayatollahs, Achieve Peace,” the author argues that the recent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) missile attack on Israel not only escalated tensions in the Middle East but also served dual purposes for Iran. The attack aimed to solidify the Islamic Republic’s standing among fundamentalists and suppress domestic dissent, particularly against Iranian women challenging mandatory hijab laws. The author details how these actions reveal deeper objectives of maintaining power through external aggression and internal suppression.

Foroutan is chairman of the Board of Trustees and executive director of The New Iran, a grass-roots opposition group that wishes to use nonviolent means to replace the Islamic State with a democratic, secular government. He critiques the effectiveness of Western policies toward Iran over the past 45 years, suggesting they have failed to alter the Islamic Republic’s behavior. He advocates for a new approach that supports the Iranian populace in overthrowing the current regime, suggesting that peace in the region and a reduction in global Islamic fundamentalism can only be achieved through such change.

This commentary invites readers to consider the complex dynamics at play in Iran’s domestic and international politics and the broader implications for regional stability and global security. Dr. Foroutan calls for a coalition of willing nations to support Iran’s secular, democratic movements against the ruling ayatollahs, positioning this as a moral imperative for the international community.