With my limited reach as an investigative journalist and historian, I have tried, now for decades, to expose to readers the tragedy played out in Iranian history. Aggressive and threatening as that country may be described by Israelis and portrayed by Western news media, Iran is the real victim in this contest. Here is why.
Iran was an ally in World War II. Much declined from its ancient status as the Persian Empire, it was occupied by Britain, and set up to provide war effort oil through British Petroleum (BP). When, in 1952, democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammed Mossaddegh argued Iran should receive a fairer share of oil revenue, a coup was organized by Britain and the CIA.
Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi was placed in power. For 27 years his secret police terrorized Iranians, until their revolution in 1979. When the U.S. protected the evil Shah from trial, youth in Tehran made hostages of U.S. embassy staff. This proved a fateful moment. Neither presidents Jimmy Carter nor Ronald Reagan had the good sense to understand the U.S. had deeply offended the Iranian people and to make peace with them.
That resentful U.S. posture continued with Reagan’s support for Saddam Hussein’s 1980 invasion of Iran and eight-year war. Provided to Iraq was U.S. intelligence, financial, and material support, including means to use poison gas and the biological weapon anthrax. The war ended in stalemate.
Following the revolution, external hostility contributed to development of a theocratic militancy that continuously governs Iran. Hostility to Israel grew from Israel’s assault on the religiously allied Shia Islamic militant political party Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah’s hostility toward Israel has been in support of the Palestinian cause.
The profoundly significant and unanswered question is whether Iran has ever intended to build a bomb, or as they have always insisted, they enrich uranium for peaceful purpose. All news is based on an assumption — they wish to build a bomb. Even Donald Trump’s Secretary Tulsi Gabard said the intent was peaceful, until she was told to shut up.
Recall that Iraq was similarly accused. Israel bombed a facility that proved not to be making a bomb. The U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, falsely claiming presence of a nuclear program.
Israel maintains the drumbeat of danger — oddly, when thought about — coming from a from a country that possesses perhaps 600 such bombs and is controlled by Zionists whose stated, aggressive agenda is expansion to possess more of the Middle East.
President Barack Obama took pains to address this problem by putting in place an open inspection that by objective accounts was working. His first term in office, Trump trashed it, a foolish move that inflamed the region. The notion of a grand peace settlement conference, that included the scuttled interests of Palestinians has never even been contemplated.
The autocrats who emerged to control Iran are not nice guys, but their hostility to Israel and the U.S., their support of proxy attacks arose from the abuses described above. Rather than ever understanding and contemplating impact of injuries they have visited upon Iran, U.S. leadership just blindly labels them terrorists.
When in 1988, a U.S. warship shot down an Iranian commercial airliner, killing 290 people, President Reagan could not bring himself to apologize, nor could the Navy admit responsibility. How else than with militancy are Iranians to respond to repeated offenses?
Then came the ruthless October 2023 Hamas invasion of Israel. Important to know is that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly knew it was coming and allowed to happen, so he could again invade Gaza — as well sparking fire from Iran’s proxies. Zionist Netanyahu is the region’s war designer. In a heinous genocide, more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed while Netanyahu plays at ending Hamas. Opportunity was created to again attack, north and south, Iran’s proxies. Missile exchanges occurred. Extinction of Iran has long been on Netanyahu’s list.
On the strength of new allegations Iran was hastening to build a nuclear weapon, in June Israel used its intelligence services and air force to extensively bomb Iran and kill its leaders. Reputed peacemaker Trump followed with a flight of B2 bombers and first combat test of bunker-buster bombs. These bombers cost us $737 million each to build. Regime change is discussed as a goal, with then unthinkable posting of a Shah.
Working in Iran in 2007, I passed within view of one of the three B2 targets, Natanze. All underground, there is little to see. My destination was the home town of an Iranian American friend, some miles further on — Natanze, population 50,000. My friend has not been able to determine the townspeople’s fate.
Charlemont resident Carl Doerner is an investigative journalist and historian, currently editing his newest work, “Breaking the Silence: Revisioning the American Narrative.”