The final battle, the overthrow of the Islamic republic, has not yet begun. That is the endgame of this war. Heavy Israeli bombing in Tehran was mainly targeting the regime’s organs of oppression. Israel also bombed the checkpoints of the hated militia on a few occasions. What was the mood like at the start of the liberation war?
On February 28, I was in Brussels for a meeting with a number of top dissidents about the struggle in Iran. That morning, the Iranian regime had been attacked by America and Israel. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei suffered from pharaonic hubris. Perhaps he thought that an army of Allah’s angels would protect him.
Someone from Iran called Starlink: “Guys, guys, Bayte Rahbari (Khamenei’s home office) has been heavily bombed.” Among those present were four dissidents who had experienced Khamenei’s prison a few years earlier. Could it be true?
We compare it to December 1944, a few months before the complete liberation of Europe. In Bastogne, the American 101 Airborne Brigade fought against Nazis who, on Hitler’s orders, wanted to turn the tide. Bastogne was transformed into a horrific battlefield. If an Allied bomb had been able to kill Hitler at that time, tens of thousands of lives would have been spared. Hope and joy would have lovingly embraced Europe. That is how we saw the possible elimination of Khamenei in Brussels. But there was no confirmation yet.
‘He is dead, really dead’
Just before eight o’clock in the evening, Nasser shouted: “He’s dead. He’s really dead. That’s what the Israeli media are saying.” No, we shouted, that can’t be true. Then Nasser yelled: “Bibi will confirm it shortly,” referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We were paralyzed. What should we do now? Tears streamed down our cheeks like rivers. We hugged each other. Congratulations!
The children of Belgium Member of Parliament Darya Safai called. They cried, “Mummy, mummy, he’s gone.” That was the most moving moment. Our children and grandchildren hope that the nightmare is over. Saeed Bashirtash knew that it had been my birthday the day before and said to me: “And now we’re going to celebrate your birthday. If only your birthday had been earlier, we would already be freed from Khamenei.”
He put a beautiful cake with a candle on the table. They started singing happy birthday in Persian: “Tavalod, tavalod, tavalod-at mobark.” I sat on a chair and they stood around me. I felt like a child. Oh, I saw my father in my thoughts, my mother in her flowery dress, and my beloved sister Fati. This year, I received the best gift ever for my birthday. The demon of Iran is dead.
After that, the Jews celebrated Purim. That feast is connected to ancient Persia. Jewish Queen Esther managed to change the king’s mind: the Jews were not enemies of the king. Thus, the genocide of the Jews was prevented. Now, after the unprecedented slaughter of tens of thousands of unarmed civilians in 48 hours on January 8 and 9 in Iran, the Jewish people have killed the mastermind behind the massacre. Iranians and Jews are ancient friends, brothers and sisters. Thank you, Bibi, thank you, Donald: we have one less nightmare.
Khamenei was a professional revolutionary
Khamenei was a professional revolutionary: Islam plus Che Guevara. He once translated an antisemitic and anti-Western book by Egyptian intellectual and Islamist Said Qutb. Fidel Castro was no longer a revolutionary in his old age, but Khamenei breathed revolutionary violence. He was the best-informed despot in the world. The supreme leader read many books and watched programs on the BBC and even on Iran International, a dissident media channel.
From his speeches, we could deduce that he was aware of everything. A few weeks ago, he said that Zionist-American terrorists had killed the wounded protesters with a neck shot. We had previously heard the opposite: that his security men had killed the wounded. He was aware of all the crimes that were being committed, and yet he defended these crimes.
Has the regime fallen? No. America and Israel are weakening the regime with their bombings, after which civilians, with the help of these countries, will be able to take to the streets for the final battle once the bombings have ended. They could be assisted in this by the Israel Air Force. It is not this regime, but Iran that must rise from its ashes. Fearful days are ahead.
Following Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s call, the Iranian people should take up the fight for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. In doing so, Iranians can count on one friend: the Jewish state, the Jewish people. Europe, the continent of values, is playing the side role of a worthless bystander. And if it fails? Then we will be faced with an Islamic super monster. If this regime is not overthrown, Iranians and Jews will never be safe again.
Back to February 28. We drank to Iran, to Jews, and to the death of the tyrant. We expressed our hope in two words: Javid Shah – long live the king.
The writer is a professor of jurisprudence (legal theory and legal philosophy) at the Faculty of Law, Leiden University.