August 22 is presented in the original commentary as coinciding with the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, an observance recognized by the United Nations so that the international community can express solidarity with the victims of this destructive phenomenon. The question, however, is whether such solidarity remains confined to slogans or leads to practical action to uphold the rights of actual victims of terrorism.
Iran: A Victim of Terrorism and a Front-Line Actor in Counterterrorism
From the earliest days following the victory of the Islamic Revolution to the present, the Iranian people have experienced the bitter and bloody consequences of terrorism. For nearly half a century, terrorist and separatist groups—described by Habilian as enjoying open support from some Western countries—have targeted Iranian citizens. Twenty-three thousand victims of terrorism is not a statistic that can simply be overlooked. Behind every number was a father, a mother, a child, a scientist, a public official or an ordinary citizen who, the author argues, was killed simply for being Iranian.
But the story does not end there. Alongside terrorist groups, the commentary says, the United States and the Israeli regime have continued what it describes as state terrorism against Iran. It cites the deaths of 290 passengers aboard an Iranian Airbus shot down over the Persian Gulf by the USS Vincennes, the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists in Tehran and Niavaran, and unilateral sanctions that Iran describes as “economic terrorism” as evidence of what it calls a broader pattern. The author concludes that Iran has been one of the world’s major victims of terrorism.
Silence of International Institutions: Another Wound on Old Wounds
The commentary argues that perhaps even more painful than terrorism itself is the silence and indifference of international institutions that claim to defend human rights. It notes that the United Nations office in Iran had been invited to attend a ceremony at the Foreign Ministry marking the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, but that none of its senior representatives attended.
The author argues that this conduct demonstrates how human rights and counterterrorism can become political instruments for some institutions, set aside when the interests of certain states are involved. The commentary also points to Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, carried out with U.S. and Western military, political and media support, and what it describes as the inadequate response of international institutions. It argues that standards surrounding terrorism have become so politicized that violence by Western allies is often not labelled “terrorism,” while actions involving Iran or the Resistance Axis are rapidly condemned.
Annual Report on Terrorism in Iran 2025: A Documented Account
Against this backdrop, the commentary describes the publication of Habilian’s “Annual Report on Terrorism in Iran” as a necessary and important initiative. The report, unveiled at the ceremony in the presence of victims’ families, academics and diplomatic and judicial officials, documents 26 terrorist attacks in 2025 that killed more than 50 people.
The figures for 2025 show a significant decline compared with the previous year, which the commentary attributes to effective action by Iran’s security, intelligence and judicial bodies. But it warns that the decrease should not obscure the human cost. Fifty victims in a single year mean 50 grieving families, 50 unfinished dreams and 50 wounds that may never fully heal. The figures, it says, remain a warning to policymakers and officials to strengthen efforts until no Iranian citizen becomes a victim of terrorism.
Families of Terrorism Victims: An Underused Resource in Human-Rights Diplomacy
The commentary describes families of terrorism victims as an important resource for the Islamic Republic in the international arena. Despite the pain they have endured, it argues, these families have shown patience and resilience and can serve as powerful voices in counterterrorism and human-rights advocacy. If the Foreign Ministry, Judiciary and research institutions make sustained use of this capacity, the author argues, it could become an effective and proactive element of Iran’s international diplomacy.
From the International Day to the National Day: Ten Days to Awaken Consciences
The period beginning with the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism and continuing through August 30, Iran’s National Day for the Fight Against Terrorism, provides an opportunity to revisit the suffering of the Iranian people, expose the crimes of terrorist groups and their supporters, and explain Iran’s role in confronting terrorism, the commentary says. It argues that the period should move beyond repeated slogans toward practical measures to support victims, pursue terrorism cases through legal channels and confront terrorism in all its forms.
“We have been victims of terrorism, but we have never been passive. We have mourned, but we have never surrendered. We have lost martyrs, but we have never abandoned the path.”