Media outlets like Iran International have been inundated with messages from Iranians across various cities, sharing firsthand accounts and videos of the aftermath. These reports, according to commentators, reveal widespread public anger directed squarely at the Iranian government.
Shirin Shams, a representative of the Stockholm-based "Women's Revolution Organization," speaking to Iran International, stated, "Without a doubt, the Islamic Republic is the cause and instigator of this war." She argued that the regime historically "misuses warmongering and an external enemy to suppress internal dissent and protests," a tactic she believes the Iranian people are acutely aware of. "People are saying this war is not our war; it's a war started by the Islamic Republic," Shams added.
She highlighted that while no Iranian welcomes an attack on their soil, the current events have further alienated the populace from the regime. Shams noted that Iranians perceive the regime's "humiliation" and "hollow authority," particularly witnessing how resources allegedly plundered from the people and invested in military hardware and proxy forces have proven ineffective. "The regime cannot gain public support after 46 years of crimes," she asserted, referencing its long history of human rights abuses.
For many opponents, the crisis underscores the regime's illegitimacy and deepens their resolve. Shams called for "a new phase of organizing protests and strikes," viewing the overthrow of the Islamic Republic as the only path to peace and stability for Iran.