The war on Iran is a war of arrogance, imperial interests
Amidst ongoing conflict in Iran, the Iranian people and their safety must remain the utmost of priorities
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD — opinion@theaggie.org
As of April 21, United States President Donald Trump has announced that he is prepared to resume the bombardment of Iran if ongoing negotiations with Pakistan, Iran and Israel continue unsuccessfully. The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, largely contingent on negotiations, has been temporarily extended by Trump — though officials from Iran’s capital city of Tehran insist that it will not negotiate under the “shadow of threats” put forth by U.S. administration, according to Al Jazeera.
The attacks in Iran, which began with a wave of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Islamic Regime Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameinei, have been nearly constant since their inception on Feb. 28. Khameinei, who had ruled in Iran since 1989, was immediately succeeded by his son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. Though the regime remains in power, the country now seems to be largely run by its Supreme National Security Council, composed of Iran’s top civilian and military officials, with Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf serving as the face of the council and as the primary parliamentary speaker and negotiator with the U.S. as the conflict continues.
Amidst a continued media blackout providing incredibly limited internet access and news coverage from within Iran, the number of civilian casualties remains unconfirmed. This is beyond unacceptable; reports of civilian deaths are also being continuously denied by the U.S., including strikes on Feb. 28 in southern Iranian cities Lamerd, during which at least 21 people were killed, and in Minab, which led to over 175 deaths, among many of them children.
Total numbers point to about 3,636 killed since the beginning of the war — with 1,701 of these being civilians and at least 254 being children, according to Reuters.
The two imperial powers have incessantly attacked Iran since earlier this year, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu carrying out massive strikes against Iran and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group, after they launched missiles into parts of Israel in solidarity with Iran on March 2.
After a 14-day ceasefire deal was signed by the U.S. and Iran in April, which Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asserted would include Lebanon, Netanyahu announced a statement contradicting the latter. Just hours later, 50 Israeli fighter jets dropped 160 bombs across Lebanese territory, including neighborhoods where Hezbollah had no reported presence, within a span of only 10 minutes.
This should come as no surprise: Israel has violated virtually every ceasefire deal it has ever signed, including over 10,000 ceasefire violations from that which was signed in November of 2024. Israel’s genocide in Palestine has also continued in full force; no matter how shocking and disturbing the numbers and stories rising from the smoke of Israel’s continued violence, world leaders, mass media outlets and international organizations alike stay silent and permit the destruction to continue unpunished and largely unacknowledged. The conflict in Iran has perpetuated this complicity and has brought along with it massive global consequences — far beyond just rising oil prices — that will likely only continue to escalate.
The European Union (EU) has also agreed to abide by new sanctions for Iranians obstructing navigational freedom in the Strait of Hormuz, according to AP News. Leaders including the foreign minister of Spain have encouraged EU states to form a unified stance against Israel, but these efforts have proven fruitless.
Despite calls to action from United Nations (UN) experts — many of whom are labeling the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Lebanon as flagrant violations of international law — aggressions have continued unaddressed.
“Only the Iranian people can decide their own future, in full sovereignty, and in line with the principles of the rule of law and respect for human rights,” UN experts said in a March 12 press release.
This should remain at the forefront of our priorities — maintaining the longevity of Iranian lives and advocating for their right to sovereignty — but unfortunately, aligning action has yet to be taken by the international community.
Trump’s decision to engage in this war on Iran in an incessant attempt to seize control over the Middle East and the region’s resources in collaboration with Israel marks just the newest colonial mission by the two entities. It is important to note also that Netanyahu has asked U.S. presidents since George W. Bush to attack Iran, citing that it could soon have access to a nuclear program, according to former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. This statement comes from Israel, which has an assumed arsenal of over 90 nuclear weapons, based on stockpile estimates provided by the U.S. Intelligence Community.
The war has, very clearly, not gone according to Trump’s plans — as he continues to make bold claims including that “a whole civilization will die tonight” on April 7. However, the nation of Iran, comprising over 93 million citizens, has remained strong.
It is important to note that Iran has one of the longest-extending histories of any nation in the world; the Iranian people have existed since the creation of the Median Dynasty in 625 BC. Iranian culture has incredibly deep roots, and its people harbor a fierce and unwavering pride for their traditions and history. Despite high claims about deal violations and consequences from political leaders, the people and nation of Iran are not going anywhere.
Throughout this conflict, despite its escalations, keep the prosperity of the Iranian people at the forefront of your mind. Iranians have the right to sovereignty beyond that which will be written on their behalf; they deserve to celebrate the death of Khameinei, deserve to mourn the loss of their loved ones, deserve an equal chance at determining their own future.
Even if it feels hopeless to observe the current state of international relations, keep the well-being of civilians and their autonomy well in mind: Keep reading, keep advocating for them and continue to think critically about history, imperialism and how they reinvent themselves in every timeline.
Written by: The Editorial Board — opinion@theaggie.org