105 Comments
User's avatar
Nima's avatar

These demonstrators are not peaceful.

They have caused destruction to government properties to private properties and they have murdered 500 police officers and riot police ( the latest count) in some cases they have burnt them alive. They have randomly shot at innocent pedestrians. You go kill just one police officer in USA see what happens to you, they will cut your ass open and yet in Iran the armed thugs trained and armed by US and Israel have killed 500 police officers and nothing is supposed to be done to them? Where do you even get this mind set. As for the other demonstrators who are not armed when you see these armed thugs and police are shooting at each other I suggest that you stay the fk home and don’t get caught in the crossfire but if you decide not to stay the fk home then please shut the fk up and don’t complain. You are fken stupid. Stupid people bring their own rope.

Shaista Aziz's avatar

I agree with Mehdi’s analysis. Israel and America have no business to involve themselves in further death and destruction in the Middle East. They are hell bent on silencing every dissenting voice and causing as much mayhem for their own evil purposes. The Iranians need to see right through their agenda and let them know in no uncertain terms to stay the hell out of their business!

Jay Friedman's avatar

Since Iran is the primary funder of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthi's - all who advocate the indescriminate murder of Jews, that makes it Israel's business.

Fred's avatar

Hamas is an asset of Israel, there are Persian Jews living in Iran. Israel has no business to exist.

Jay Friedman's avatar

Hamas is an asset of Iran. The vast majority of Persian Jews left for Israel, and secondly, the US. Less than 10K live in Iran today because of the extremist government.

Israel has every right to exist as the indigenous homeland of the Jewish people.

Mohamedraza Tarbhai's avatar

To you if anyone who opposes the Zionist Agenda makes it Israel's business, NO it does not, Israel is NOT a Jewish State, it is Zionist, the support that Iran is providing is the resistance against an agenda of genocide, expansion and international law violations. Current Israel leaders should all be arrested and sent to Hague. Long live the Resistance against oppression, Fascism and Imperialists!

Jay Friedman's avatar

Repeating the above:

It is the Palestinian Arabs and their allies who are the ones that have been targeting and murdering Jews in the Levant for over 100 years, going back to the 1920s. It was the Mufti who met with Hitler to express his people's (the Palestinians) support of Hitler's plan of extermination.

Even the Hamas' founding charter is a written plan of genocide of the Jews living not only in Israel but around the world. And, Hamas is willing to execute its own people to carry out that plan.

Furthermore, Jews have lived continuously in the Levant for over 3,000 years. Check your history and your scriptures.

Nancy's avatar

Thank you, Mehdi. I wish the best for the Iranian people. I had started to read “All the Shah’s Men,” about the coup against the secular and democratically-elected leader, Mosaddegh, instigated and supported by the U.K. and the U.S. because Mosaddegh wanted to keep more of Iran’s oil profits for Iranians (I can’t remember now whether Iran was receiving only 16% of the profits, or whether Mosaddegh was pressing for retaining at least 16% of the profits, but it was one or the other). In the intro of the original publication of the book (it has since been updated), Iranians are quoted and I remember the hurt and disillusionment they expressed because of their betrayal by the U.S., which they thought was an ally. Then the U.S. installed the Shah, who murdered his own people. So, we are indeed hypocrites. I will finish the book, btw, and recommend it to others. Not knowing the history is like saying the problems between Israel and Palestine began on October 7, 2023.

Marcia Z Bookstein's avatar

An Iranian friend recommended the documentary Coup 53. It's a thorough history of what Kermit Roosevelt and the CIA did to get rid of Mosaddegh. They tried several times and finally succeeded. You keep wondering, if only British Petroleum and the US had left well enough alone, what would Iranians' lives be like. But no. Once again our oil exists under somebody else's land.

Sarah's avatar

A) Did you even listen to Mehdi’s entire commentary? Try reading the transcript; you are arguing against something he didn’t say. B) where do you get the mindset that “something should be done” means killing any & all protesters, regardless of provocation, and you’re OK with that. C) how is it that you’re so quick to skip over years of oppression, imprisonment & death by the regime in order to focus exclusively on violent resistance?

Nima's avatar

Nice try Sarah, better luck next time

P.S I like the part that you concocted a quote from me that I had never said. 😀😀

Pat Duran's avatar

The US has no concern whatsoever at all for the welfare of the Iranian people -- or for any people. The sole reason the US is involved is Israel, and Israel's wish to have this current government replaced with another Pahlavi Shah, just as the democratically elected government of Iran -- which were supporters of Palestine -- was toppled and replaced in 1953. If Iran were to suddenly declare that it supported Israel and had no problem with its eradication of the Palestinians, the US would no longer gives a rat's ass about "freedom" in Iran, just as it doesn't give a rat's ass about freedom in Saudi Arabia or the UAE, which are ruled by totalitarian despots.

Pat Duran's avatar

It is a fair question as to who the violent thugs in the protest crowd were, and whether they were recruited, armed, or paid by Israeli or American government operatives in the military or intelligence sector. This is the kind of question our congressmen should be asking of the administration, instead of echoing the jingoism and war-mongering that paints Iran as some cartoon villain. It is America that orchestrated a coup to overthrow the democratically elected government of Iran, and then installed the Shah as our puppet thug. And it was America that later placed economy-killing sanctions on Iran's economy when they dared to throw out the Shah and free themselves from western control. WE ARE THE BADDIES, to put in the clearest terms, we are the violent, predatory, resource-thieving baddies.

Nima's avatar

Pat your facts and conclusions are right on the money. I might add that Mossad in its site posted a message ( in Farsi) telling Iranians that they stand with Iranians not just from far away but our guys ( Mossad guys) are walking beside you in these protest. A similar messages was posted by Mike Pompeii telling Iranians the same thing and that foreign intelligence agents are walking beside you and of course the pumpkin head encouraged Iranians to go out and capture government buildings and institutions.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/182zsNmcLk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Jeff Biss's avatar

OK, where is your evidence of what you allege? I can provide you a link of the outright murder by Ross, an ICE thug, murdering a US citizen for no reason but he wanted to. Can you come close to that to support your claim?

Pat Duran's avatar

Former U.S. Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo explicitly suggested the presence of Mossad agents among protestors in Iran in a social media post on January 2, 2026. Amidst widespread anti-regime protests in Iran, Pompeo suggested that the Iranian leadership was under pressure and that the regime was "in trouble". writing on X (formerly Twitter): "Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them". The comment coincided with a Mossad-linked social media account in Farsi encouraging Iranians to take to the streets and claiming to be with them "in the field".

Jeff Biss's avatar

Sorry, but that's not evidence of Nima's claims. Are all protesters peaceful? No, some may break things and attack state agents and are then faced with suffering the legal consequences. But like here state agents murder at will. as happened with Good and Pretti and like here some people will claim that those victims had it coming because they dared not obey the state agents or got in their way.

Not all protests will be peaceful, in many cases because state agents abuse authority and state actors, like Trump's junta, will claim that victims are themselves "terrorists". Trump and the entire GOP should hang and perhaps those leaders in Iran should hang also for their crimes against their people, but Nima has not supported their claims.

Pat Duran's avatar

An American official and an Israeli official allude quite openly and publicly to the involvement of Mossad -- It's not videotapes and signed notarized confessions, but it qualifies as evidence as far as I'm concerned.

White Coat Open Book's avatar

The left doesn’t deny that. They are saying the Iranian protesters have been hijacked. Their legitimate concerns are not being addressed and are being used for geopolitical purposes. The Islamic Republic needs to go and they are responsible for the deaths of thousands.

Mehrnoosh - مهرنوش's avatar

How many accounts of left leaning activists do you want we to send to you that are saying exactly that? Instead of deflecting, reflect.

White Coat Open Book's avatar

Who is deflecting? The left, I know, can chew gum and walk like Mehdi said. The real focus needs to be on Iranians in Iran, not what armchair activists say or don’t say. You can’t categorize the left as one entity. Stay focused, Nooshi, on the real issue at hand. Everything else is just distractions.

Mehrnoosh - مهرنوش's avatar

شما ایرانی هستید؟ خانواده‌تون ایران زندگی می‌کنن؟ لازم نکرده تو به من ایرانی که همه خانواده‌ام ایرانن و الان یک هفته است صداشون رو نشنیدم و نمی‌دونم زنده‌ان یا مرده بگی چیکار کنم! اگر هم برای فهمیدن این دو سه خطی که من نوشتم گوگل لازم داری پس همون بهتر که ساکت باشی. خودت جمله‌ات رو این‌جوری شروع کردی«چپ این موضوع رو انکار نمی‌کند» یعنی همه چپ رو با هم یک کاسه کردی بعد به من می‌گی چپ‌ها رو یک کاسه نکن. فقط چپی که تو می‌شناسی چپه لابد.

White Coat Open Book's avatar

Writing in Persian isn’t the power move you think it is. Yes, I’m Iranian. Yes, I have family in Iran. I’ve been trying to reach them too. I will pray for you and your family and channel your misguided anger to good. Peace and love!

Susan S.'s avatar

Thank-you for telling it like it is Mehdi! Honest reporting.

Steve Woodward's avatar

Mr. Hasan, you left out the part that the protests in Iran are caused by the collapse of the economy, a dynamic largely caused by U S sanctions.

Lisa's avatar

Colonial powers are playing destabilization-games in Iran, while they CROWN Tony fucking Blair, VICEROY of PALESTINE.

Listen to the confessions of the perpetrators:

"Happy New Year to all the Iranians in the streets, and the Mossad agents walking beside them." ~ Mike Pompeo

"We have a hand in this." ~ Amihai Eliyahu (Israel's Heritage Minister)

Including Israeli news:

"Mossad spurs Iran protests, says agents with demonstrators in Farsi message"

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-881733

Or listen to a Columbia University professor:

"Mossad agents are hiding among Iranian demonstrators”

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UzR0cI4KFhk

Or listen to your own common sense. Did Iranian protesters just happen to wait until it was convenient for Israel & the US, and then decide they hated their government so much that they wanted to BURN DOWN MOSQUES & SHOOT CHILDREN? That sounds a lot more like the behaviour of someone else we know.

Israel is not just arming & inciting the violence in Iran, Israel is on the ground, inside Iran, perpetrating the worst of the violence. Israelis & foreign mercenaries hired by Israel. They've undoubtedly also recruited the dumbest thugs in Iran.

What definitely didn't happen: Iranian protests (which have been peaceful for years) didn't suddenly get violent, at Israel's convenience. And the Iranian government didn't start gunning down peaceful protesters, at Israel's convenience. Israel & the US are using destabilization tactics against Iran.

This may not be perfectly straight forward, but it's not that confusing, either.

US sanctions created hardship. Israeli destabilization tactics created unrest. Any coverage that down-plays that, is just lying.

I fully support the Iranian government SHOOTING BACK at Israelis & Israel's mercenaries. That much is straight-forward.

I don't want peaceful protesters to be hurt, let alone killed. I also don't know what the Iranian government is meant to do, right now.

The government's announcement — asking legitimate protesters to stay home, while the government deals with violent foreign agitators — seemed like a legitimate attempt to keep protesters safe, in my opinion.

There have also been large pro-government demonstrations in Iran. Iran is a big country with a lot of different opinions, but pretty much every Iranian would likely agree that they don't want Israel & the US dropping in, to agitate, inflame & co-opt legitimate grievances, incite violence, overthrow their government, and dictate Iran's future.

Again: Colonial powers are playing destabilization-games in Iran, while they CROWN Tony fucking Blair, VICEROY of PALESTINE.

Mehrdad's avatar

This is what sets Mehdi Hassan apart from most other journalist in our times, ability to chew gum and walk at the same time.

In regards to the Iranian situation and people's aspiration for a better system, it is tragic how the West would never allow an independent and democratic system to flourish in Iran or any other Middle Eastern nation. From their 1953 Coup to this day, they have supported only US-aligned dictators and the Clown Prince represent one of those.

David Albert's avatar

the protestors have been violent, burning hospitals and schools, businesses, and sometimes shooting people. you've been taken in with propaganda.

roland krueger's avatar

I’d like to some INTENSE DEBATE about the FAILURE of the Democratic Party to be a viable Opposition Party. The debate should focus on the ineptitude and incompetence of the Democratic Party leadership I.e. Schumer, Jeffries, Martin, Gillibrand, Booker, Slotkin. I’d also like to see Mehdi interview the 7 Democratic Senators who voted to confirm Kristi Noem.

Elias Sbaity's avatar

When it comes to Iran and the Middle East, people here seem incapable of chewing gum and walking at the same time. I don’t understand the reasoning—especially since multitasking isn’t illegal under this administration. Yet.

Roshan Pedder's avatar

Yes. Summarised my views perfectly. But as always, understanding the situation is but the first step. What next do we as activists do? My gut instinctive reaction would be to support any demonstration against US, Western and Israeli interference but that would/could be seen as not supporting the people in Iran. Terrible dillema.

Bruce O.'s avatar

Israel manipulated Orange headed monster piggy Will help Iranians for bombing them to till they go back to 20 years. How convenience for the west to bring democracy and human rights with the premium track record of Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and many others. (Venezuela and Cuba waiting in line next)

So help Israel to Holocaust 65k Palestinian people mostly women and children non combaters and save the day with big Iran show.

Bari Weiss is an asshole, there was not 20 thousand protester killed. So BBC, Musk with propaganda machine X.

Netanyahu did not realize yet orange piggy playing with him after agreeing with them in Mara largo take the lead bombing Iran, he is downplaying now. When they whistle his ear, American Soldiers will die in this process, not Lindsey Graham family members. I think they both coming out from dementia and remembers where they are. If you Corner the rat it chews through you.

Let's see if they got the balls.

Remember 2009 protests in Iran bring reformist government Ahmadinejad because they want to cut the deal with west, Iranians gave everything what Obama asked for at jcpoe Iranians got nothing. No sanctions removed all the assets still hold in west. Then Iranians Protest again 2019 then Raisi came (probably killed by the west or Israel mysterious helicopter crash) Iranians understand there is no way you can make deal with this people move towards to BRICS and Russia's way that was the last draw.

That bring us to TODAY they will attack and try to kill every Iranian hoping no less than Syria type of outcome.

Sarfaraz haji's avatar

Unfortunately in this world we have to choose better of the two choices. You can criticize the government of Iran and support US Israeli stance and possibly face situations like Libya and Syria and the list goes on, or you can support the government of Iran while not the best, (at least from western perspective) doesn’t want to destroy the country. I am sure they have better intentions than US and are less ruthless than US.

Mohamedraza Tarbhai's avatar

On most instances I agree with you Mehdi, in this issue I think you forget that you see hundreds of dead people were not all by Government forces, they were by the Mossad and Pahlavi supporters and so in the cross fire innocent people died, unfortunate as it is, it certainly was not intentional. Blackout was also necessary for security reasons to avoid further incites against the Government.

Nevin Oliphant's avatar

Nice analysis Mehdi, but you missed one extremely important point. The US is brutalizing, imprisoning and killing protesters here at home. Perhaps we should clean up our own act first.

Susie Lusie's avatar

chew gum AND walk at the same time