US State Department Hints At Iran Overthrow: Are We Witnessing The Early Stages Of Regime Change?

The US State Department has issued a formal condemnation of the Iranian government following two days of economic protests centering in a handful of cities, calling the regime "a rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos" while announcing support for protesters. It fits a familiar script which seems to roll out when anyone protests for any reason in a country considered an enemy of the United States (whether over economic grievances or full on calling for government overthrow).

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Map via The Daily Mail

The statement by spokesperson Heather Nauert, released late on Friday, further comes very close to calling for regime change in Iran when it asserts the following:

On June 14, 2017, Secretary Tillerson testified to Congress that he supports "those elements inside of Iran that would lead to a peaceful transition of government. Those elements are there, certainly as we know." The Secretary today repeats his deep support for the Iranian people.

Though most current reports strongly suggest protests are being driven fundamentally by economic grievances, the US has already framed this week's events inside Iran as revolutionary in nature and as aiming for "transition of government". On Friday evening White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted the following statement:

Reports of peaceful protests by Iranian citizens fed up with the regime’s corruption and its squandering of the nation’s wealth to fund terrorism abroad. The Iranian government should respect their people’s rights including their right to express themselves. The world is watching.

The media is already promoting a regime change narrative

As we noted during our initial coverage of Thursday's protests, Israeli as well as Iranian opposition media commentators (and of course pundits in the US mainstream) have generally appeared giddy with excitement at the prospect that protests could spread inside Iran, potentially culminating in society-wide resistance and possible change in government. It goes without saying that Iran has been enemy #1 for the United States and Israel since the Islamic Revolution and embassy hostage crisis beginning in 1979. 

Consider for example this major Israeli international broadcast network, which in an English language interview segment covering the very beginnings of (relatively small and limited) protests Thursday quickly linked the Tehran government with use of chemical weapons in Syria, supporting the "biggest butcher in this region Bashar al-Assad", and facilitating the killing of civilians:

Simultaneously the resident "expert" presents the protesters as condemning these things while yearning for freedom and democracy. He can barely contain himself while repeating "It's spontaneous! It's spontaneous!... and could be more spontaneous! ...it inspires people to go out more! ...Because it's spontaneous these two are combustible mixtures":

Other tweets and statements from the generally pro regime-change media and the experts which frequent their panels seem very eager to prematurely cast this as a 'revolution':

...And notably (just above) the Saudi royal family owned Al-Arabiya is presenting the Iran protests in terms of women's rights.

Are we witnessing regime change agents hijacking economic protests?

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Further to this point, the always excellent Moon of Alabama blog explores the possibility that what we are witnessing is the beginning of a covert regime change operation in Iran, similar the story of the war in Syria.

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Comments

07564111 Stan522 Dec 30, 2017 9:07 AM

You'd think that after repeated attempts to do this and their recent failure in Syria they would rethink their well known methods.
Iran is no way going to let this happen without a fight, all Iranians will join together, regardless of their points of view, to defeat the Great Satan JUSA.

In reply to by Stan522

InsaneBane InsaneBane Dec 30, 2017 9:57 AM

Saban Forum 2017: A keynote conversation with Jared Kushner

"As the American administration nears its first anniversary, we are witnessing an approach that is new and different. “America First” naturally raises questions among allies and partners abroad about the scope and depth of U.S. involvement in world affairs. This year's Saban Forum discussions and webcast sessions focused on the U.S.-Israel relationship, the future of the Middle East, and much more."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdUyvZoonw

https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/06_iran_strategy.p…

 

 

In reply to by InsaneBane

Yuri Bezmenov skbull44 Dec 30, 2017 10:18 AM

Zionism, like socialism/marxism etc are merely tools for the elite. They are using their court jews for their dirty bidding, like they used them in the Bolsjevik revolution example: Trotsky/Lenin came from Suisse into Russia. 

They want to restore the third temple in Quds (Jerusalem) for the Vatican. The USA, Commonwealth in hands of the queen are subservient to the Vatican. Study the maritime law that they have in common.

 

In reply to by skbull44

two hoots Moe Howard Dec 30, 2017 12:50 PM

We can expect the US to target Iran from every angle but never directly.  Iran is considered a source of instability and a threat to those it opposes.  It alone is not the final puzzle piece that could bring lasting calm, US version, to the region but a very large and critical piece indeed.  This attempt to push Iran to a moderate position is one of many that never ended well.  Repeating the same thing and expecting different results is….well….traditional with US foreign policy.  Briefing something with PowerPoint slides vs traditional transparent slides is not a different approach to the same old problems.

 

In reply to by Moe Howard

TBT or not TBT Skid Marks Dec 30, 2017 1:32 PM

Most Iranians now hate not just the mullahs but Islam itself.   A bit like in the set up conditions for the French revolution the people had come to hate the Catholic hierarchy alongside the hereditary aristocracy and monarchy it had worked comfortably in lockstep with for centuries.   The revolution was both anti-clerical and anti-monarchy.    But the French had largely not stopped yet believing in God and Jesus and biblical stories etc.   The Persians have largely rejected Islam.  It is now widely viewed there as the anti human tyrannical sect of a barbarous invading foreign culture that it was when it was first imposed by invading arabs.    Persians today often have a symbol of Zoroastrianism under their clothing or on display in their homes, as a symbol of Persian nationalism, and defiance to the sickness that is the Arab Islam   

In reply to by Skid Marks

shuckster tmosley Dec 30, 2017 2:32 PM

Hopefully so. I'm tired of shitskins being all upity when it comes to world affairs: "you are jewSA umeryka!" "great satan!" "lalala" shut up sandnigger. we really should ban all muslims from entering america. And we should force our "allies" to do the same. start playing hard ball. either pitch in or get fucked

In reply to by tmosley

dumluk Skid Marks Dec 30, 2017 2:58 PM

Give it a rest Skid.....J. Carter despite being a CFR member was one of the better and most decent Presidents we have had in our lifetime......And hes still out there working for the downtrodden and the underdogs....and speaking out against the madness.......look into it......He is the antithesis to George Soros.........

In reply to by Skid Marks

JSBach1 FBaggins Dec 30, 2017 12:43 PM

Yuri is just a gov't spook who only comments when the "official" response is needed and happily collects his shekels for his "work".

His is another fine example of either one of a dual-citizen or a compromised goy selling out to his masters; in either case it is a microcosm of our "fine" gov't at work promoting "peace" and "equality"...

In reply to by FBaggins

Max Hunter BennyBoy Dec 30, 2017 2:49 PM

These people must think we are fucking morons. Of course this is US lead. They had their asses handed to them in Syria, now they are going to take it up another lever. They need to because the walls are closing in on the petrodollar and they want a war to defend it without "technically" started said war.  What a fucking joke.  Americans are the dumbest fucks in history.

In reply to by BennyBoy

Dark star Max Hunter Dec 30, 2017 4:22 PM

It is important to distinguish between judging the actions and values of (sometimes rogue) Governments and the actions and values of the Citizens of a Country.

It is not antisemitic to criticise the policies of the Israeli Government; nor is it anti-American to criticise the policies of a very small cadre of Washington policy makers.

Most of us are united in our humanity.

In reply to by Max Hunter

XWeatherman Michigander Dec 30, 2017 3:58 PM

It has worked well.  It produced chaos and destruction in Syria were U.S. destroyed most of the infrastructure where it maintains a military foot in the door.  It set the history of the most peaceful and richest country in Africa (Libya) back 200 years, stole it's gold and exported it's weapons to terrorists. It divided and started a civil war in Ukraine. It killed close to a million people and subjugated Iraq while providing billions in profits to MIC Death-Merchants.  It divided and subjugated Yugoslavia.

The traitorous and treacherous U.S. Deep State, with it's War Criminal foreign policy agenda, looks forward to similar, if only partial success, in Iran.

In reply to by Michigander