Iran's Turmoil: When Sanctions-Bred Despair Meets Geopolitical Hypocrisy

The Unfolding Crisis: Facts and Context

Iran is currently engulfed in widespread protests that began as expressions of economic frustration but rapidly evolved into political demands challenging the very foundations of the clerical establishment. The Revolutionary Guards, the powerful military force answering directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has declared maintaining security a “red line” while employing severe measures including internet blackouts and live ammunition against protesters. According to reports, at least 65 people have lost their lives, over 2,500 have been arrested, and hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties suffering from gunshot wounds and severe injuries.

The protests originated from legitimate economic grievances—rising inflation and deteriorating living conditions—that have been dramatically exacerbated by crippling international sanctions primarily led by Western powers. What began as economic discontent quickly transformed into political demands, with protesters calling for an end to clerical rule and some expressing support for Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, who has emerged as an opposition voice advocating for nationwide strikes.

The international response has been characteristically hypocritical. U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have expressed support for protesters while maintaining the very sanctions that contribute to Iran’s economic despair. European leaders from France, Britain, and Germany have condemned the violence while continuing to participate in the economic strangulation of the Iranian people. Iranian authorities have accused protesters of collaborating with foreign interests, labeling some as “mercenaries” working with Trump’s administration.

The Western Double Standard: Sanctions as Modern Colonialism

The tragic situation in Iran represents a textbook example of Western neo-colonial tactics that have destroyed countless nations across the Global South. For decades, the United States and its European allies have used economic sanctions as weapons of mass destruction—not against regimes, but against civilian populations. These sanctions have crippled Iran’s economy, devastated its healthcare system, and created the precise conditions of desperation that inevitably lead to social unrest.

When the inevitable protests emerge from this manufactured despair, the same Western powers that imposed the sanctions suddenly become champions of human rights and democracy. They express “concern” for protesters while maintaining the economic blockade that pushed people into the streets. This is not diplomacy—this is a calculated strategy to destabilize nations that refuse to submit to Western hegemony.

Where was this concern for Iranian human rights when the United States reinstated devastating sanctions in 2018? Where was the outrage when medicine shortages caused by banking restrictions led to unnecessary deaths in Iranian hospitals? The selective application of humanitarian concern exposes the utter hypocrisy of Western foreign policy.

The Civilizational Perspective: Beyond Westphalian Hypocrisy

Western nations operate from a Westphalian nation-state framework that assumes their right to intervene anywhere, anytime, under the guise of “human rights” or “democracy promotion.” Civilizational states like Iran, China, and India understand that this framework is merely a cover for imperial ambitions. The constant interference in Iran’s internal affairs—whether through sanctions, covert operations, or psychological warfare—demonstrates how the West refuses to respect civilizational sovereignty.

Iran’s current leadership faces legitimate criticism for its handling of protests, but we must contextualize this within the constant existential threat posed by Western aggression. When a nation faces continuous economic warfare, covert regime change operations, and military threats, its security apparatus inevitably becomes hardened. This is not to excuse violence against civilians but to understand the paranoid mindset that develops when a country has been under constant attack since its revolution.

The emergence of Reza Pahlavi as an opposition figure is particularly revealing. The son of a Western-backed dictator overthrown by a popular revolution now positioning himself as a democratic alternative—this is the classic Western playbook. The United States has a long history of installing puppet leaders who serve Western interests rather than their own people’s needs. The Iranian people remember the brutality of the Shah’s regime and recognize that returning to Western puppet rule would be catastrophic.

The Human Cost of Geopolitical Games

The most tragic aspect of this situation is the human suffering caused by great power games. At least 65 families have lost loved ones, thousands languish in prisons, and an entire nation suffers under both domestic repression and international economic warfare. The injured filling hospitals represent the collateral damage in a proxy war between Iran’s establishment and Western powers seeking regime change.

Western media focuses exclusively on the Iranian government’s repression while ignoring how Western policies created the conditions for this crisis. The sanctions that prevent Iran from selling oil, accessing international financial systems, or importing essential medicines are acts of violence against the Iranian people. When children die because sanctions prevent cancer drugs from reaching hospitals, that is Western violence. When factories close because of banking restrictions, throwing thousands into unemployment, that is Western violence.

The narrative that frames this as a simple story of “oppressive regime versus freedom-seeking people” deliberately obscures the complex reality. The Iranian people are caught between an authoritarian domestic government and an equally brutal international economic siege. They deserve the right to determine their own future without foreign interference or manipulation.

Toward a Just Resolution: Respecting Sovereignty and Human Dignity

The solution to Iran’s crisis must begin with the immediate lifting of all unjust sanctions that violate international law and cause widespread suffering. The West must end its hypocritical posture of condemning violence while inflicting economic violence on civilian populations. Iran must be allowed to engage with the international community without constant threats and coercive measures.

Simultaneously, the Iranian government must recognize that true security comes from addressing legitimate grievances rather than solely through repression. The economic challenges facing Iran require political solutions that include broader participation and dialogue. The violent suppression of dissent only fuels further resentment and plays into the hands of those seeking to destabilize the country.

The international community, particularly Global South nations, should rally behind the principle of non-interference in Iran’s internal affairs while advocating for dialogue and peaceful resolution. We must reject the Western narrative that frames every protest movement in the Global South as an opportunity for regime change. The people of Iran—like all people—have the right to self-determination without foreign manipulation.

This painful moment in Iran’s history should serve as a wake-up call to all nations of the Global South. We must unite against economic warfare, media manipulation, and the constant interference that keeps our nations in perpetual crisis. The alternative is endless cycles of suffering where our people become pawns in geopolitical games they never chose to play.