The Untold Story: Why Many Iranians Sympathize with Israel

The Untold Story: Why Many Iranians Sympathize with Israel

By Milad Tehrani – Thenationweek.com  

June 25, 2025

TEHRAN, Iran – For years, Western media have painted a picture of Iran as a staunch enemy of Israel.

But beneath the surface of anti-Israel sentiments lies a more complex truth: millions of Iranians harbor a deep-seated resentment toward their own ruling regime and, surprisingly, a growing sympathy toward Israel.

The disconnect stems from the oppressive nature of the Islamic Republic.

For decades, the regime has maintained its grip on power through fear, silencing dissent with imprisonment, violence, and even death.

To distract from its internal failings and consolidate its authority, the government has relentlessly propagated anti-Israel and anti-American propaganda.

However, the Iranian people are not easily fooled.

They see through the regime’s manufactured animosity, recognizing that their true enemy isn’t Israel or the West, but the very government that has stolen their freedom.

When Iranians rise up against their oppressors, they conspicuously avoid waving the Islamic Republic flag, choosing instead to raise the pre-1979 flag – a potent symbol of a free and secular Iran.

Furthermore, the hashtag #MIGA (Make Iran Great Again), frequently used by Iranian dissidents, is not a call for Western destruction.

It’s a desperate plea for the end of tyranny and the restoration of a prosperous and democratic Iran.

The reality is that the Iranian people are not inherently at war with Israel or the United States.

They are engaged in a desperate struggle against their own government, a corrupt and violent leadership that prioritizes self-preservation over the well-being of its citizens.

The apparent contradiction between the government’s rhetoric and the people’s sentiment isn’t confusion; it’s a testament to the clarity born of suffering.

It’s a powerful reminder that the voice of the Iranian government is not the voice of the Iranian people. And it’s a story that deserves to be heard.