Trump still thinks Iranians will ‘rise up’ against the regime. In Tehran I see a different story
If anything, the ongoing war is uniting a divided country against the foreign invaders. Washington seems a long way from grasping this point
TL;DR
- Donald Trump's expectation of an Iranian uprising appears to be a failed US policy, based on observations from within Iran.
- Even within Iran's digital ecosystem, where anti-state sentiment was previously common, there is a growing detestation of the US and its war.
- Images and stories of civilian casualties are unifying the country against foreign invasion, rather than inspiring revolt against their own state.
- The distinction between the Iranian people and the Iranian state is blurring due to civilian deaths, making an uprising on behalf of a foreign attacker less likely.
- Nationalist and anti-imperialist sentiments are rising, potentially closing ranks within the nation rather than dividing it.
- Washington is naively missing the point that opposition to the Islamic Republic does not equate to support for an American war against Iran.