Middle East Forum : Daniel Pipes: The Revolt in Iran Lacks Leadership

 Middle East Forum

Daniel Pipes: The Revolt in Iran Lacks Leadership

Atlantico (Italy)

December 14, 2022

https://www.meforum.org/63912/daniel-pipes-the-revolt-in-iran-lacks-leadership

Originally published in Italian under the title: "Rivolte in Iran, manca una leadership e Biden è debole." Interview by Tommaso Alessandro De Filippo.

Tommaso Alessandro De Filippo: Does the current protest movement in Iran differ in fundamental ways from prior ones?

Daniel Pipes: Yes, it does. No other protest since 1979 has continued for so long or been so widely supported. It also has key constituencies – Kurds and women – that add to its impact.

Women are a key part of the revolt in Iran.

TADF: Does the Iranian regime still enjoy a solid position of power or might it collapse?

DP: The regime will likely survive. A counter-revolution needs leadership, which this one lacks. That many of the regime's top leaders helped to overthrow the shah means they have first-hand insights into suppressing their opponents.

A counter-revolution needs leadership, which this one lacks.

TADF: Do you agree with the Biden administration's approach to Iran or should it support the anti-regime protests more?

DP: It should do more. At least Biden has improved somewhat on Obama's response in 2009, when the president, in an effort to reach a nuclear deal with Tehran, basically said nothing in support of the protests. But Biden's response is feeble. Now is the moment to declare that the U.S. government seeks a change of regime in Iran and that it will help those working toward such a change.

I cannot imagine a Democrat attacking Iran's nuclear infrastructure.

TADF: Will the Iranian nuclear buildup lead to a military intervention by either Israel or the United States?

DP: I cannot imagine a Democrat attacking Iran's nuclear infrastructure; a Republican, possibly would do so. If not, Israel is likely to attack it.

TADF: Are NATO countries supporting Ukraine sufficiently? If not, what more can they do?

DP: NATO countries (with the exception of Hungary and Türkiye) have been superb in terms of adopting a unified stance, taking in refugees, freezing Russian assets, cutting off commercial ties, reducing energy dependence, funding Ukrainian governme

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Middle East Forum December 14, 2022