Iranian Opposition Faces Harsh Repression Amid Israel-Iran Conflict, Nobel Laureate Warns

The recent twelve-day conflict between Israel and Iran serves not only as a geopolitical flashpoint but also as a catalyst for severe internal repression within Iran, according to 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. In a revealing interview published by the Wall Street Journal, Mohammadi paints a dire picture: Iranian civil society faces growing dangers amid the escalation.

Mohammadi, who has endured thirteen arrests and prolonged imprisonment under Iran’s oppressive regime, highlighted the mounting risks for political activists and especially young Iranians involved in social movements. The Islamic Republic exploits accusations of espionage for Israel to justify sweeping crackdowns. Since June 13 alone, around 750 people have been detained by the Revolutionary Guard—a force sworn to protect the regime’s core interests—with six executed on charge of collaborating with Israel.

These detainees are frequently branded as “terrorists” or “mercenaries” beholden to the so-called Zionist regime. Some face allegations of possessing weapons purportedly intended for actions against the government. This harsh approach underscores Tehran’s zero tolerance for dissent and its willingness to weaponize regional conflicts to crush internal opposition.

A Call for Organic Change, Not Foreign Intervention

Despite her suffering—including spending months in cramped prison cells and being separated from her children—Mohammadi stands firmly against foreign interventions aimed at regime change in Iran. She warns that only homegrown movements can achieve legitimate transformation without compromising sovereignty or fueling illegitimacy.

Her critique reaches beyond Tehran to include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom she compares unfavorably yet with striking parallelism to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Both leaders promise liberty or paradise but instead lead their peoples into turmoil and repression. This sober assessment exposes how leadership failures on both sides harm innocent civilians caught in geopolitical crossfire.

What This Means for US National Security

From an America First perspective, understanding this dynamic is crucial. The Iranian regime’s brutal suppression of its own people shows why Washington must remain vigilant against Tehran’s global aspirations while supporting genuine freedoms without reckless foreign entanglements. The US must prioritize policies that uphold freedom, national sovereignty, and support authentic democratic movements rather than empowering foreign military adventures or proxy wars that deepen human misery.

Narges Mohammadi’s courageous voice reminds us all: authoritarian regimes use external conflict as cover to tighten their grip at home. As American patriots committed to liberty, we must stand alert, informed, and ready to champion policies that protect freedom-loving peoples everywhere — starting with common-sense approaches here at home.