Following Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attacks on Israel this past Saturday, the Winnipeg Jewish Review reached out to Arian Arianpour a former Iranian journalist who is currently the President of the Iranian Community of Manitoba to get his thoughts on the attacks and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s role in destabilizing the Middle East and the world.

Arianpour says, “The Islamic Republic regime remains a destabilizing force in the region, fueled by its ideology and reactionary stance on international affairs, particularly towards Israel.”

Arianpour states “We condemn the regime's attacks on Israel. It's crucial to recognize that Iran as a nation is not at war with Israel; it's the Islamic Republic regime that is hostile. We all must act accordingly.”

There are over 89 million people in Iran, and Arianpour emphasizes that the Iranian people who are oppressed by the current  Iranian regime, which came to power in 1979  following the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, do not want war with Israel. As Arianpour points out, “The primary victims of potential conflict or heightened tensions would be the Iranian people. The regime exploits such situations to further suppress its own citizens. War never fosters democracy, freedom, or justice-seeking initiatives; the people of Iran reject a war imposed by the regime they do not support.”

Arianpour, who moved here 5 years ago estimates the Iranian community in Manitoba numbers around 2000 people. 

He stresses that the Iranian people are determined to overthrow the regime.

“Support for the regime in Iran is limited to a minority who benefit from its oppressive policies. Over the years, particularly since the inception of the Woman Life Freedom Revolution, Iranians have demonstrated valor and determination to end a regime that harms not only Iran but the entire region and beyond,”  he states.

When asked what measures the West, including Canada can take against the Iranian regime, Arianpour replies, “Meaningful support for the Woman Life Freedom Revolution, both by people and governments in the free world, is crucial to altering the behavior of the regime. The Iranian people, who have sacrificed their lives for universal values, will lead the change.

”As protests, strikes, and civil disobedience continue in Iran, it's evident that the revolution persists. We must be prepared to stand with the Iranian people during nationwide protests, as witnessed several times in the past five years, to not only liberate Iran but also to foster a more peaceful world.”

Arianpour adds, “In the interim, designating the IRGC [Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp] as a terrorist organization and empowering civil society are critical steps. Sanctioning high-ranking officials and organizations also adds pressure on a regime that responds only to such pressure.”

 Arianpour again says, “It's essential to distinguish between the authoritarian regime terrorizing its people and those fighting against it.”

Arianpour favours dialogue and understanding between the peoples of the Middle East.  

“Middle Eastern communities should engage in constructive conversations without resorting to divisive labels. Even without the Islamic Republic regime, the Middle East must overcome black-and-white mindsets to enable meaningful discussions, debates, and criticisms. The people of Iran, Israel, Palestine, and the broader Middle East deserve to coexist in peace,” he notes.

The Islamic Republic regime of Iran has been funding and militarily training Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen, and has been behind the smuggling of extensive weaponry through Jordan into the West Bank to support terror there. It also has its sights set on destabilizing King Abdullah of Jordan. It plans to arm, via Hezbollah, 12,000 terrorists affiliated with Jordan's Islamic Resistence  disclosed by the Iranian Islamic regime's news agency, ISNA.

Iran has been experiencing significant economic problems. The Iranian people are the ones shouldering much of the burden of the existing economic woes, with inflation over 50%, rising utility, food and housing prices. Following its unprecedented attack on Israel, the rial currency fell sharply.

The United States announced that it will soon impose new sanctions on the Iranian Islamic regime's missile and drone program, and that it expects its allies and partners to follow. New sanctions will also target the Iranian Islamic regime's defense ministry.

Regarding the Woman Life Freedom Revolution, it is to be noted that The Islamic Republic of Iran has engaged in the systematic oppression of women.  For decades, gender inequality and discrimination against women have been legally enshrined in Iran. Under Iran's Penal Code and other laws and regulations, Iranian women's rights are severely restricted in marriage, divorce, inheritance and custody. They also must comply with the IRI's mandatory hijab laws from the onset of puberty.

This past Saturday the Iranian regime launched at least 300 drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles into Israel while Iranian-backed terror groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis joined in, launching rockets into Israel from their bases in Lebanon and Yemen.

Brig.-Gen. Reem Aminoach, former financial advisor to the IDF chief of staff, has estimated the cost of operating Israel's sophisticated defense systems that repelled the attack on Saturday night to be "on the order of 4-5 billion shekels" ($1.06 billion-$1.33 billion).

A Muslim Bedouin girl is now fighting for her life after being hit by falling shrapnel from a downed Iranian projectile near Arad.

The Israeli military – supported by the US, UK, and Jordan and Saudi Arabia – was able to neutralize 99% of the attack and stop Iran from hitting urban areas. Saudis Arabia passed on intelligence to assist in Israel. Many of the drones and missiles had to travel over Jordanian and Saudi airspace to reach Israel, but were repelled by these Arab states.