The Iranian Navy Is the Solely Establishment Able to Catalyzing the Downfall of the Regime — International Points

NEW YORK, January 15 (IPS) – Not like ever earlier than, Iran’s Islamic regime is dealing with a revolt led by a era that has misplaced its concern. Younger and previous, women and men, college students and staff, are flooding the streets throughout the nation.
Iran’s future could properly hinge on whether or not its navy chooses to behave and save the nation, pushed by financial collapse, corruption, and many years of repression. Girls and ladies are on the forefront, protesting with out headscarves, defying the clergy that after managed each facet of their lives. They don’t need reform; they’re demanding freedom, financial aid, and the tip of authoritarianism.
Shutting down the web, arresting almost 17,000 protesters, killing a minimum of 3,000, together with youngsters, and Trump’s menace to make use of drive to cease the Iranian regime haven’t prevented the mullahs from persevering with their onslaught. The regime’s ruthless crackdown has been a calamitous wave of repression, taking 1000’s of lives in a brutal try to crush dissent. But even within the face of such peril, the general public stays undeterred, decided to proceed their struggle.
Now, nevertheless, they want the help of probably the most highly effective home—not overseas—energy to come back to their help. The Iranian navy is probably the most pivotal establishment within the nation, able to catalyzing the downfall of the regime. The navy is the important thing participant, with important inner affect and the potential to drive the mandatory change from inside, finally resulting in regime change.
Each officer within the navy ought to cease and assume, how do I need to serve my nation.
Do I need to proceed to prop up a bunch of reactionaries, self-obsessed previous males who’ve lengthy since misplaced their relevance, carrying the false gown of piety to seem sanctimonious whereas subjugating the folks to hardship and hopelessness?
Ought to I not help the youthful era who’re craving for a greater life, for alternative, for a future that provides that means to their existence?
Ought to I not take part in sparking the revival of this magnificent nation from the doldrums of the previous 47 years which have consumed it from inside?
Ought to I proceed to arrange for conflict in opposition to Israel, or prolong a peaceable hand and spend money on constructing my nation with such immense pure and human riches and be within the forefront of all different fashionable democratic and progressive nations, and restore the glory of historical Persia?
Do I actually need to proceed to put on blinders and let my nation be destroyed from inside, or ought to I turn out to be a part of a newly reborn nation and take private satisfaction in serving to to revive it?
The reply to those questions must be clear to each officer. The navy ought to set up a transitional authorities and pave the way in which for a authentic, freely elected authorities, and restore the Iranian folks’s dignity and their proper to be free.
The concept that the Shah’s son, Reza Pahlavi, may return and restore a monarchy is simply the other of what the Iranian folks want. As a substitute of one other type of corruption or an previous kingdom, they deserve a democracy and real freedom.
Within the remaining evaluation, Iran’s future could relaxation on a single profound alternative—whether or not its navy steps ahead to reshape the nation’s future.
Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of worldwide relations, most lately on the Heart for International Affairs at NYU. He taught programs on worldwide negotiation and Center Jap research.
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