‘Topple This Bloodthirsty Government’: Despite Censorship, Some Iranians Express Support for Israel’s Strikes

Latest Developments

• Iranians Seen Supporting Israeli Strikes: As Israeli forces continue to conduct airstrikes on military and infrastructure targets belonging to the Iranian regime, a steady stream of reports has emerged of Iranian citizens cheering the strikes despite government censorship. Videos posted on social media in the past few days showed Iranians chanting “Death to [Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei” and “Death to the Islamic Republic,” among other slogans, as well as chanting slogans calling for the restoration of the Pahlavi monarchy. Many view the targeted Israeli strikes that have eliminated several of Iran’s top military leaders and nuclear scientists as the start of the collapse of the oppressive regime.
• Iranian Regime Throttles Information Access: The videos emerged despite Iran’s Ministry of Communications imposing restrictions on internet access, hindering citizens’ access to information. One Iranian quoted by The Washington Post stated, “We know that even if there’s a war that involves the [Iranian] people, it’s still better than the situation we are in with this government.” A viewer of the dissident London-based Iran International TV channel called on Iranians to go out into the streets “united with each other and to topple this bloodthirsty government.”
• Promoting Pro-Regime Sentiment: The Iranian authorities have been trying to boost public support through disinformation and propaganda. As residents of Tehran fleeing the strikes clogged roads out of the capital, Iranian officials blamed poor auto maintenance for the gridlock. Iran’s state-owned IRIB TV1 (Channel 1) — targeted in an Israeli strike on June 16 — broadcast footage from a pro-regime rally on June 15, where attendees chanted “Death to Israel!” and “Death to America!” “We need to plough Israel because Israel is the enemy of mankind and humanity,” said one woman in attendance, while another called for the Iranian people to “chew off” Netanyahu’s throat.

FDD Expert Response

“There is a notable rise in anti-regime activity as Israel begins to degrade the infrastructure of the regime’s domestic security apparatus. This signals the potential for broader and more sustained protest activity if Israeli efforts continue to target the internal regime forces.” — Saeed Ghasseminejad, Senior Iran and Financial Economics Advisor

“While Israeli strikes have dealt a serious blow to the regime’s military infrastructure, Tehran’s deeper fear concerns domestic unrest. In an effort to rally support, the regime is invoking nationalist rhetoric, but many Iranians aren’t buying it. They don’t see the Islamic Republic as representing their side, and for them, this war remains strictly a confrontation between the regime and its adversaries.” — Janatan Sayeh, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“‘We Are Not Pausing for a Moment’: Israel Strikes Iranian Ballistic Missile Infrastructure,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel May Need U.S. Help to Take Out Key Iranian Nuclear Site Before Disaster Strikes,” by Andrea Stricker

“Iran Appeals to Qatar, Oman to Revive Nuclear Talks,” FDD Flash Brief

“Elaborate ‘deception operation’ orchestrated by Trump and Israel’s Netanyahu to decapitate Iran’s leadership and cripple nuclear program,” by Mark Dubowitz