The Islamic Republic's Warning to Israel; Users: This War is 'Khamenei's Ummah'

As the rhetoric from Islamic Republic officials against Israel continues, many users opposing the regime's policies state that any potential war involving Israel has nothing to do with the Iranian people and is instead a conflict between the regime's agents and their leaders against that country. Yashar Tabrizi, a human rights activist and former political prisoner, emphasized in a video message that 'we must not allow the Islamic Republic to devastate our land more than today,' asserting that 'this war is not national, patriotic, or Iranian,' but rather a war of 'Khamenei's Ummah' aimed at 'destroying Israel.' In a message published on Sunday, October 7, he discussed the Islamic Republic's missile strikes on Israel and the possibility of a response, stressing that this war is unrelated to Iran: 'This is not a national, patriotic, or Iranian war; it is a war between Takfiri and terrorist groups and Khamenei's Ummah against Israel for its destruction.' This constitutional monarchist human rights activist from Tabriz urged the Iranian people: 'Let us not allow the Islamic Republic to devastate our land more than today.' He also referenced statements from 'Akhund Khorasani, Ahmad Lasheni,' who said, 'If one day the Islamic Republic does not govern in Iran, we will hand you a scorched land so you cannot rebuild it,' asserting: 'An Iranian should die if he allows a cleric to ruin his country.' Many users on social media have spread the hashtag 'War is very scary,' sharing videos and posts about 45 years of human rights violations in Iran by the Islamic Republic, stating that the regime has been waging war against the Iranian people for decades. In this context, Taraneh Bajravani, the wife of Ali Fotuhi, a protester killed during the nationwide protests of 2022, remarked on the 'blood of the slain flowing in the streets,' saying: 'Yes, war is very scary, especially when you are unarmed and seeking your right to life against gunfire.' Additionally, Mahsa Pirayi, the daughter of the bereaved Minou Majidi, who was killed in the 2022 protests, wrote: 'War is very scary, especially when your mother goes into the street for a peaceful protest and is killed with 167 shotgun bullets, and fearing her body will be stolen, she is quickly buried, and you carry your body with two children to Iran on her grave, the only thing you see is photos of her bullet-riddled body and the pain and trauma you will carry for the rest of your life!' Parsa Ghobadi, a Kurdish constitutionalist protester who lost both eyes during the government crackdown on the 2022 protests, shared an image of his eyes and described what happened to him during the protests and subsequent detention, stating: 'Yes, war is very scary; especially when hundreds of bullets are fired, blinding both your eyes, you are arrested. They burn your body with a taser. They bruise your body with a baton and inflict hundreds of incurable pains on you.' Following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the potential for a retaliatory attack by Israel against the Islamic Republic's missile strikes towards that country, all flights at Iranian airports have been canceled from 9 PM on Sunday until 6 AM on Monday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Saturday that while Israel is fighting 'wild forces' led by the Islamic Republic of Iran, all civilized countries must stand firmly with Israel. However, French President Emmanuel Macron and some other Western leaders are now calling for an arms embargo against Israel. Netanyahu added: 'Shame on them! Does the Iranian regime impose an arms embargo against Hezbollah, the Houthis, Hamas, and other proxy forces? Of course not. This axis of terror stands together. But countries that apparently oppose this axis of terrorism are calling for an arms embargo against Israel. How shameful! Let me tell you this, Israel will prevail with or without their support. But their shame will continue long after our victory in the war.' Previously, following the launch of dozens of missiles by the Islamic Republic towards Israel last Tuesday, Prince Reza Pahlavi stated in a statement: 'The Islamic Republic's missile attack on Israel last night was a clear declaration of war against that country and, in fact, a declaration of war against the Iranian nation.' Hours after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' missile strikes towards Israel, while this issue became a hot topic among Iranian users on social media, the IRGC Intelligence Organization issued a statement criminalizing users' comments as 'support for Israel' on social media and urged Iranians to 'spy' on each other. Many users on social media emphasized that the Islamic Republic's 'ideological jihad' has nothing to do with Iran and Iranians. Meanwhile, following the Islamic Republic's military adventure and missile attack on Israel, several figures and organizations have expressed concern about the consequences of continued tensions. Hamid Ismailioun, a political activist and opposition figure, stated that 'one can say no to the Islamic Republic and also to war.'