Should the US become involved in helping protesters in Iran?

[Ihatetomatoes]

The situation is awful there now. Should the US become involved?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2jek15m8no.amp

Even when the protesters want their help? Should the slaughter be ignored.

Or more hopefully to the airport. They have friends in Russia and South Africa.

On the point about whether the Iranians like america or not I would suggest following iranians on twitter, many are amplifying messages from within Iran calling on help from america, also there have been Israeli flags at some of the demonstrations within Tehran. Diaspora Iranians are asking where the americans are. I’m inclined to listen to Iranians on this (not the pro-regime academics they pull out on aljazeera). Of course there are people within Iran who dislike the USA intensely but I don’t think if you are unarmed and getting shot at you are going to fuss too much about exactly who bombs the IRCG. Every non regime Iranian I’ve seen is screaming for help.

I do think Trump promising help pushed more people into the streets. But Iranians have been revolting for decades and being murdered by their regime for decades. Anyone who follows Iranians on twitter will see the backs of women who have been lashed, the skin literally flayed off, in hospital beds after being beaten by basij, photos of dead women and men (and children) who have been killed. This is not new. The west did not create these protests, the ayatollahs did. But it is our fault they are in charge.

I also think the only reference point people have is the war on terror a lot of the time, so they think everything is Iraq. Iraq was completely different, boots on the ground, highly tribal population, generally a lot more religious than Iranians etc etc. I really doubt a post ayatollah Iran is going to be a jihadi factory. I think the big danger in any middle eastern country is balkanisation.

@Bringemout

Re Iran. I have not seen Balohistan mentioned. The tribal area on the Pakistan/ Iran border. They have been doing terror attacks in both nations as they do their thing.

And of course the Kurds in western Iran. Kurdistan overlaps a few countries.

Post regime overthrow, I fear it will not be as simple as some think.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy8pkn17mpvt

"President Donald Trump says the US will take "very strong action" against Iran if it executes protesters, after earlier telling Iranians "help is on the way"

It comes as relatives of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, who was detained last week, tell BBC Persian he is due to be executed today

More than 2,400 anti-government demonstrators have been killed in a violent crackdown by Iranian authorities, according to a US-based rights group

Trump has been weighing military and other options in response, having already announced 25% tariffs on any country trading with Iran

Iran's government has accused the US of seeking to "manufacture a pretext for military intervention", warning that "this playbook has failed before"

While some people in Iran are now able to call people outside the country, an ongoing internet blackout is making it difficult to verify information from inside"

Authoritarian regimes tend not go quietly because their supporters know what the consequences will be for them when they do.

Unfortunately I fear that the extreme Islamist regime will be drawing on their security powers like the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (and possibly the West Midlands Police 😀) to keep them in power.

Lyse Doucet on R4, it might make you cry as she’s so good at relaying the horror for women and people there.

I don't think it will be simple at all but the overthrow of the Islamists must overall be a good thing both for Iranians and the wider world especially the Middle East.

US military staff told to leave Qatar base as Iran threatens attack

The United States has pulled some military personnel from its air base in Qatar after Donald Trump threatened to intervene in Iran’s deadly protests.

Staff were advised to leave Al Udeid Air Base – the largest US military facility in the Middle East, home to around 10,000 troops – three sources told Reuters.

The move came after Tehran warned neighbouring countries hosting US forces that it would retaliate against American bases if Washington followed through on threats to intervene, a senior Iranian official said on Wednesday.

According to The Telegraph analysis, the partial evacuation of US personnel from its al-Udeid air base in Qatar is the most tangible signal yet that armed conflict with Iran could be close.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/14/iran-regime-protests-us-trump-qatar-base/

Iran vows revenge for any attacks
With Iran threatening "revenge" if the US launches an attack, Sky News understands Washington is pulling personnel out of a key base in the region. Donald Trump earlier warned of "very strong action" if Iran hangs anyone, as protests continue.

Iran isn’t going to attack anyone whatever happens. It’s forces would be shot or blown up straightaway.

Strange to joke about this awful situation.

In case of US attack, Iran prepared to ‘set the region on fire’

ByTohid Asadi
Reporting from Tehran, Iran
Iran now faces continuous threats from US President Donald Trump, which runs the risk of further escalation not only in the country but also the region.
Iranian officials are saying in case of a US attack, Iran is prepared for a full range of different scenarios.
The speaker of the parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said yesterday Iran will “set the region on fire” – a very strong message for the US’s allies in the region.
And he said US ships, American military bases in the Middle East, as well as Israeli territory are going to be “our legitimate targets”.

On the point about whether the Iranians like america or not I would suggest following iranians on twitter, many are amplifying messages from within Iran calling on help from america ...

I have Twitter blocked, @Bringemout, but it's worth remembering that plenty of people "like America" when they want something - usually money or military support - but are all too ready to revert to screaming and spitting once they've got it

As for Israeli flags appearing at the protests, I really wouldn't be too swayed ... they'll be back to burning them soon enough

'As for Israeli flags appearing at the protests'

Iranians stood with Israelis and British Jews at many vigils during the Gaza war. Unsurprising when you remember that Islamists in Iran helped finance and protect Hamas, among other terrorists.

@Alexandra2001 wasn't Blair in charge when he and bush went into Iraq ?

Yeah I do agree with this, I understand why the Syrian Kurds are anti government, look what happened to the Druze. I also understand why Jolani tried to fold jihadis i ti the national army. It’s difficult, he’s trying to restrain them. On the other hand Iraqi kurds are rubbing along ok and tend to be okish with the Iraqi government also anti PKK.

Baloch is an interesting one, not sure about the Iranian Balochs but the Pakistani Balochs seem to want independence and feel they are being oppressed by the Pakistani government. I’m not entirely aure whats going on there tbh.

I think some groups will be fine some will want succession or federalisation. I really hope they don’t, I don’t think it’s necessary in a country like Iran with low religiosity (compared to it’s neighbours). In most arab countries it’s a balancing act between different religious groups and ethnic groups. I hope that Iranians are able to see themselves as Iranians first.

Really most normal Iranians don’t I don’t think. They tried to raise a chant about Israel and a bunch of students started screaming “fucking palestine” back , that was last week before they started cutting the internet. Which I don’t endorse tbh and I think is meant more as a provocation against the regime than any genuine personal animosity towards Palestinians.

Also remember footage at campuses where they had painted the american and Israeli flag on the floor and students too care not to step on them.

Iranians aren’t stupid, they know where their pilfered money is going. As I said I follow a fair few Iranians on twitter and they post footage from iran that Parsi speakers will translate.

Also the reason x shouldn’t be banned, theres a lot of shit on there but its times like this people can get their message out.

Well uk us and France were pretty influential in disposing of the Shah years ago….,

Yeah we owe them to be honest, a lot of blood on our hands for delivering that prick to Tehran.

The USA can't currently run the USA very well. Let alone anywhere else.

Some interesting posts online:

J K Rowling wrote: “If you claim to support human rights yet can’t bring yourself to show solidarity with those fighting for their liberty in Iran, you’ve revealed yourself. You don’t give a damn about people being oppressed and brutalized so long as it’s being done by the enemies of your enemies"

Latest

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-trump-military-action-protests-airspace-latest-news-b2900885.html