Al-Qalam 
Iran today, is able to stand up in defense of Venezuela by opposing Trump’s efforts to impose regime-change in that country, writes Iqbal Jassat
Dramatic developments currently underway in Venezuela, reveals a sinister yet bold plot by the United States of American to impose regime-change via a coup.
Interestingly, the brazen attempt to impose an unelected opposition leader as President of Venezuela coincides with Iran’s 40th anniversary of its Islamic Revolution.
The seeds for revolutionary change in Iran were planted during August 1953, when the elected leader Dr Mohamed Mussadeq was overthrown by the direct intervention of the USA. The CIA engineered coup which installed the Shah into power, inaugurated an intense period of oppression.
Under US-protection, the Shah imposed his Pahlavi dictatorship which for the next quarter of a century, was characterized by extreme brutality, repression, massacres and subservience to Western imperialism.
Much to the dismay of the Shah’s backers, who in addition to the USA, also included Israel, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf and parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, Iran’s Islamic movement, led by Imam Khomeini, mobilized the entire nation in a remarkable fervor which culminated in the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Four decades later, the Trump administration is desperately pursuing regime-change in Tehran, which as is well documented, was attempted by his predecessors going back to Carter, Reagan, the Bush dynasty, Clinton and Obama.
None succeeded despite their use of a proxy war whereby Iraq’s strongman Saddam Hussein, who at the time was a Western stooge, had been armed to the teeth with unlimited financial backing from Saudi Arabia, to overthrow the nascent Islamic Republic of Iran.
Despite repeated failures to reinstall a client-regime in Iran, the American-Israeli axis has not stopped their nefarious schemes. The last four decades have been witness to a variety of operations including assassinations, insurgencies, infiltrations, co-options, sanctions and arming of counter-revolutionaries. Yet, Iran has remained deeply committed to its founding principles and to the amazement of the world, is as solid as a rock.
As regards the Revolution’s ideological roots, the country, its leader and people have had to endure decades of vilification for subscribing to a worldview informed by Islam. Overnight, as soon as it became apparent that the Shah had fled his Peacock Throne and Imam Khomeini had returned from exile to guide Iran’s transition from a dictatorship to a self-respecting sovereign independent country, Islamophobes went beserk.
Led by Israel’s well-oiled propaganda outfits, the world was overwhelmed by depictions of Imam Khomeini as a “mad mullah”. Western media platforms set off an anti-Iran frenzy with reports and broadcasts which warned that unless the “clergy” were stopped in their tracks, Iranians will be doomed to live in “medieval history”.
Undisguised hatred for Islam coupled with intolerance of Muslims who alongside their countrymen offered their lives to free Iran from the shackles of the Shah’s brutal dictatorship, became a dominant characteristic of western analysts.
Having successfully survived and more importantly beaten the haters and doomsayers, Iran today, is able to stand up in defense of Venezuela by opposing Trump’s efforts to impose regime-change.
The measure of Iran’s remarkable strength is evident from its ability to withstand crippling sanctions and to defy American/Israeli pressure by displaying steadfast solidarity with Palestine in words and deeds.
Iqbal Jassat
Exec Member: Media Review Network
Johannesburg
