Iranian Activist Condemns US-Israeli Airstrikes and Monarchist Opportunism
Flames engulfed an oil storage facility south of Tehran on 7 March 2026, as airstrikes targeted the city, marking a devastating escalation in the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. Nasrin Parvaz, a prominent Iranian women's rights activist and torture survivor, has voiced profound sorrow and condemnation, arguing that the conflict and opportunistic political maneuvers are failing the Iranian people.
A Heartbreaking Reality for Civilians
Parvaz, who has long advocated for international attention on Iran's human rights abuses, expressed anguish over the bombing campaign. "My heart is breaking for my country," she stated, highlighting the deaths of innocent civilians, including over 150 schoolgirls believed killed in a US strike. She emphasized that the war, initiated by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, is not driven by liberation but by political agendas, with Netanyahu naming the operation "Lion's Roar" and monarchists waving the shah's flag in celebration.
Monarchist Exploitation and Historical Parallels
The activist criticized Reza Pahlavi, son of the former shah, for positioning himself as a leader while expressing more concern for American casualties than Iranian ones. Parvaz noted that some diaspora monarchists, including former Islamic guards, could gain power through this conflict, drawing parallels to the 1953 UK-US coup that installed his father. She warned that calls for uprisings by Trump, Netanyahu, and Pahlavi are reckless, as they expose protesters to regime retaliation, with tens of thousands estimated killed in past demonstrations.
Dangerous Political Dynamics
Parvaz argued that these demands effectively condemn Iranians to death by allowing the regime to label dissenters as foreign collaborators, a charge punishable by execution. She observed that powers like the US and Israel seem fearful of a genuine people-led uprising, which would be uncontrollable, leading to a "carefully managed" regime change from above rather than from below. Monarchists, she added, have condemned anti-war Iranians and echoed the regime's violent rhetoric, calling for the silencing of leftists and others.
A Call for Global Solidarity
In the face of this united assault on civilians, Parvaz urged the international community to stand against the "massacre from the sky." She hopes Western populations will protest the war and demand its end, emphasizing that empty promises and military intervention are no answer to Iran's plight. Her message underscores the urgent need for a humanitarian response that prioritizes civilian lives over geopolitical maneuvering.
