The Zionist-imperialist assault on Iran has subsided for now, but no one can say how long this uneasy calm will last. What is clear, however, is that it is a mistake to believe that the genocidal warmongering of the Zionist regime is driven solely by Netanyahu’s personal bid to avoid prison. Unfortunately, this is a simplification—even among those in Italy who hold advanced positions on the Palestinian issue. What is unfolding is a broader and deliberate effort to redraw the map of the entire region—and Netanyahu is far from the only architect of this project.
In addition to the daily genocide being committed in Gaza, the goal has also been to strike at the Axis of Resistance—stretching from Lebanon through Syria, Iran, and Iraq, and including Yemen. In this context, it is impossible to overlook Tehran’s objectively anti-imperialist and anti-Zionist role. The ambivalence shown even by some leftist circles—supporting Palestine while criticizing Iran—is fundamentally flawed. It stems from a political culture that, despite its radical posturing, remains deeply entrenched in Atlanticist ideology.
Right-wing commentator Marcello Veneziani wrote in La Verità on June 18, criticizing "half of our political class, which, on the brink of a war that could go global—amid looming explosions, killings, and massacres—still finds time to parade at gay pride events in Hungary, because the top enemy to fight, of course, is Viktor Orbán." Though we are ideologically worlds apart from Veneziani, his words still warrant reflection.
Returning to the recent brief conflict with Iran: while the military exchange between Tehran and the United States was limited and carefully managed by both sides, the confrontation with the Zionist regime was significantly more intense. As emphasized by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, this short war revealed that the Zionist enemy is no longer capable of waging war independently. It has become entirely dependent on U.S. and Western military, political, logistical, and diplomatic support, exposing its structural fragility and lack of initiative.
Iran’s response struck hard. Netanyahu had set two main goals: regime change in Tehran and the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program. He achieved neither. Despite sanctions, Iran has managed to grow not only militarily but also technologically. Just as the U.S. played a key role in helping Netanyahu out of the corner he had backed himself into, Russia also played an important role—demonstrating that it was not willing to abandon its ally. Putin, who is treated as a pariah in the West, made a substantial contribution to the pursuit of peace. Considering all this, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Iran emerged stronger from this confrontation.
What will happen in the coming months—or even days—remains uncertain. But what is increasingly clear is that Netanyahu's many open fronts (Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Iran, Syria, the Houthis in Yemen) are becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Equally hard to contain is the global outrage over the genocide unfolding in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Italian politics and media remain largely unquestioning. Even those who criticize the bombings by Netanyahu and Trump often feel compelled to begin by expressing their hostility toward Tehran. But it’s time to clarify a few points about Iran, especially the dogmas that portray it as a state sponsor of terrorism, a violator of women’s rights, and bent on exterminating all Jews. These are claims that crumble under scrutiny.
Take terrorism for instance. ISIS has launched attacks on Iran. When Trump ordered the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, it was ISIS and Netanyahu who celebrated. Is this the behavior of a terrorism sponsor? The only true sponsor of terrorism is the West, which used ISIS to destabilize Syria. One wonders: which terrorist attacks has Iran organized or carried out? Unfortunately, political debate in Italy now simply parrots American talking points.
Regarding women’s rights in Iran, it is worth noting that women not only make up the majority of university graduates, but also hold significant roles in Iranian society. The same goes for Iran’s Jewish community, which is not only not persecuted but also holds seats in parliament. Yes, Islam plays a prominent role in Iran, and the Supreme Leader holds significant power. But the same could be said of Israel, which defines itself as a "Jewish state" and treats Arabs and Christians as second-class citizens. We're not saying Iran is without problems, but rather that it is up to the Iranian people—who vote democratically for their parliament and president—to address them. With a civilizational history spanning over 5,000 years, Iran has every right to choose the political, social, and religious structures it deems appropriate.
So where does this hatred for Iran come from? The answer lies in its foreign policy choices. Iran has moved closer to the BRICS nations, trades oil with China in yuan, and has deepened ties with Russia. This is Iran’s real “crime”: wanting a multipolar, democratic world. In The Grand Chessboard, Zbigniew Brzezinski warned that the greatest threat to U.S. dominance would be an alliance between China, Russia, and Iran. That’s the reality. The rest is just a performance staged by servile media figures who go on television to talk about “democracy.” Fortunately, democracy isn’t exported through bombs—otherwise, we’d be first on the list.
By Marco Pondrelli